By Victoria Mejicanos
AFRO Staff Writer
vmejicanos@afro.com
The Maryland Department of Health issued a notification of potential measles exposure on Jan. 11 after they were notified of a confirmed case of measles in a person who traveled through Maryland while infectious late Jan. 7 through Jan. 8.
Anyone who may have shared the following public conveyances during any of the listed dates and hours below may have been exposed:
- Amtrak NE Regional Train from Philadelphia 30th Street Station to Washington, D.C., Union Station from 9 – 11:30 p.m. on Jan. 7.
- Amtrak BWI shuttle to and from the BWI train station and the drop-off points outside of the lower-level of BWI Airport from 10:45 p.m. on Jan. 7 to 1:30 a.m. on Jan. 8.
- BWI Airport Parking Shuttle to and from outside of the lower-level outside of BWI Airport and the BWI Airport’s long-term parking lots from 11 p.m. on Jan. 7 to 2 a.m. on Jan. 8.
- There were no exposures identified inside the terminals of the BWI Airport.
What is measles?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), measles is a highly contagious disease that must not be dismissed as a fever and rash. Measles can cause serious health complications, especially in children younger than 5 years old.
The best protection against measles is the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine, according to the CDC. The MMR vaccine provides long-lasting protection against all strains of measles.
“Vaccination remains essential to protecting ourselves, our families and our communities against measles and other infectious diseases,” said Maryland Deputy Secretary for Public Health Services Dr. Meg Sullivan. “These types of situations underscore the importance of knowing your vaccination status and ensuring you are up to date with all recommended vaccines.”
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.”
- If you are not fully vaccinated or otherwise immune to measles and you might have been exposed, call your healthcare provider or your local health department to discuss the best next steps for you.
- Monitor yourself for any early signs of measles for 21 days after your potential exposure.
- If you develop a fever or other symptoms of measles, stay home and do not go to childcare, school, work or other public spaces, and contact your health care provider. Call your health care provider before showing up at a waiting room or emergency department so that the facility can take measures to prevent measles from spreading to others.
Signs and symptoms
Measles symptoms appear seven to 14 days after contact with the virus. Common measles symptoms include:
- High fever (may spike to more than 104 degrees Fahrenheit)
- Cough
- Runny nose (coryza)
- Red, watery eyes (conjunctivitis)
- Rash
Measles cases have occurred sporadically in Maryland, according to the press release, with three cases identified in 2025, one in 2024, one in 2023, and no cases currently identified in 2026.