Out-of-state visitor brings measles risk to Northern Virginia

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- A person from out of state infected with measles has raised concerns about potential exposure risk in Northern Virginia, according to state health officials.

The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) has confirmed a case of measles after an out-of-state visitor traveled through Washington Dulles International Airport on Saturday, Jan. 24, according to a Jan. 30 release.

Health officials are working to identify those who may have been exposed in the area, which includes potentially exposed passengers on specific flights.

Those exposure locations include:

• Dulles International Airport (IAD): in Concourse B, on transportation to the International Arrivals Building (IAB) and in the baggage claim area between 5 a.m. and 9 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 24.
• Dulles shuttle bus to the rental car facilities between 7 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 24.

This comes more than a week after the department confirmed on Jan. 20m that a small child was sick with measles after international travel, marking Virginia’s third case in 20 days.

Symptoms typically begin within 7 to 14 days after exposure during the first stage of measles. This would begin with fever in some individuals, a runny nose, cough and red, watery eyes. Health officials said a rash typically develops three to five days later, and usually appears on the face first and then spreads through the rest of the body.

Virginia has four reported cases of measles in 2026, per state health officials.

For more information, you can read the VDH’s full press release by clicking here.