Maryland Issues Notification of Potential Measles Exposures Associated with Person Who Traveled to Maryland Location While Infectious
Baltimore, MD – The Maryland Department of Health was notified of a confirmed case of measles in a Washington, D.C. resident who visited a location in Maryland while infectious on April 24, 2026. Marylanders are urged to check exposure times, monitor for symptoms, and ensure their measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccination status is up to date.
There is no known connection between this case and previous cases reported by the Maryland Department of Health in 2026.
Measles is a highly contagious disease that is spread easily through the air when an infectious person breathes, coughs, or sneezes. The virus can remain in the air for up to two hours after the infected person leaves the area. The disease can also be spread by direct contact with infectious droplets and after touching infected surfaces.
In addition to the locations listed by DC Health, anyone who may have visited the following Maryland locations during the listed dates and hours below may have been exposed:
- New Hampshire Business Center, 6495 New Hampshire Ave., Hyattsville, from 12 - 6:30 p.m.
What to Do If You Think You May Have Been Exposed
- Find out if you have been vaccinated for measles or have had measles previously. If you have received two doses of a measles-containing vaccine or were born before 1957, you are generally considered protected. To check your immunization status, call your healthcare provider or request records securely online via My Immunization Record “MyIR”.
- Individuals, especially those not fully vaccinated or otherwise immune to measles, who were at any of the locations during the possible exposure times should monitor themselves for any early symptoms of measles for 21 days after the potential exposure.
- Exposed individuals who develop a fever or other symptoms of measles should not go to child care, school, work, or out in public, and should contact their healthcare provider. They should call their healthcare provider before going to a waiting room or emergency department so that the facility can take measures to prevent measles from spreading to others.
- If you are not fully vaccinated or otherwise immune to measles (i.e., you already had measles) and you might have been exposed, call your healthcare provider or your local health department as soon as possible to discuss the best next steps for you.
Early symptoms of measles are a fever of more than 101 degrees Fahrenheit, a runny nose, a cough, and red, watery eyes. Usually, one to four days after the early symptoms, a red rash appears on the face and spreads to the rest of the body. Symptoms typically develop 10 to 14 days after exposure, but can develop as soon as seven days and as long as 21 days after exposure. A person with measles is contagious, beginning four days before the rash appears until four days after the rash begins.
“Vaccination remains essential to protecting ourselves, our families, and our communities against measles and other infectious diseases,” said Maryland Department of Health Deputy Secretary for Public Health Services Dr. Meg Sullivan. “Talk with your healthcare provider to ensure you and your family are up to date with all recommended vaccines, including the MMR vaccine.”
The Maryland Department of Health recommends all eligible people get fully vaccinated against measles. The measles vaccine is routinely recommended at 12–15 months of age for the first dose and the second dose at 4–6 years old. Sometimes a dose is given as early as six to 12 months if there is travel planned to an area that has ongoing measles transmission.
The MMR vaccine is covered for those with health insurance and through the Vaccines for Children Program. Adults who are uninsured or underinsured can check with their local health department about the availability of a free MMR vaccine as part of the Maryland Vaccine Program.
Measles cases occur sporadically in Maryland, with three cases of measles identified thus far in Maryland in 2026, three cases in 2025, one in 2024, one in 2023, and no cases from 2020 to 2022.
To protect the individual's privacy, the Maryland Department of Health will not provide any additional information about the individual.
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The Maryland Department of Health is dedicated to protecting and improving the health and safety of all Marylanders through disease prevention, access to care, quality management, and community engagement.
