Virginia Department of Health (VDH) confirmed the state’s first measles case of 2025. The patient is a child under 4 years old who recently traveled internationally. Health officials are working to identify anyone who may have been exposed.
According to VDH State Epidemiologist Laurie Forlano, vaccination remains the best defense against measles. Two doses of the MMR vaccine provide lifetime protection and are safe and effective. Virginians planning to travel should check their vaccination status, consult with their healthcare provider, and get vaccinated if needed.
Potential exposure sites include Kaiser Permanente Caton Hill Medical Center in Woodbridge on April 15 and Kaiser Permanente Fredericksburg Medical Center on April 16. If you were at these locations during the specified times, you may be at risk of developing measles.
Measles is a highly contagious illness that can spread through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes. Symptoms appear in two stages: fever, runny nose, and watery red eyes first, followed by a rash. People with measles are contagious from four days before to four days after the rash appears.
To check your immunization status, call your healthcare provider or request your vaccination records. VDH has high measles vaccination rates, but infants under 12 months old who have not received two doses of MMR vaccine are vulnerable to infection.
Source: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/news/2025-news-releases/virginia-health-officials-confirm-first-2025-measles-case-in-the-state