Montgomery County health officials confirmed a case of measles in a resident on Friday.
Officials stated in a release the resident visited the Cabin John Ice Rink in Bethesda, Maryland on Wednesday, May 24 between 6 and 9 p.m. The resident was also at a professional office building at 16220 Frederick Road in Gaithersburg, Maryland on Tuesday, May 30 between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Health officials stated anyone concerned that they may have been exposed to measles, or who might have measles infection, should call their doctor’s office for instructions before going for an evaluation. Those potentially exposed may also call Montgomery County Health and Human Services’ Disease Control Office at 240-777-1755 to determine their risk of contracting measles.
There were five confirmed measles cases reported in Maryland in 2019, and there have been no measles cases reported since then, according to officials.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), measles spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The virus may remain in the air for up to two hours.
Measles symptoms appear 7 to 14 days after contact with the virus and typically include high fever, cough, runny nose, and watery eyes, according to the CDC. Measles rash appears 3 to 5 days after the first symptoms.
According to the CDC, measles can be prevented with the MMR vaccine. The vaccine protects against three diseases: measles, mumps, and rubella.
To learn more about measles, click here.