Measles case reported in Baltimore-area resident, state says

Key Points:

• Maryland health officials confirmed the first measles case of the year in a Baltimore-area resident who recently traveled internationally, with potential exposure sites including Baltimore-Washington International Airport, FastMed Urgent Care in Pikesville, and Sinai Hospital in Baltimore.
• Measles is highly contagious, spreading through coughing, sneezing, breathing, or touching infected surfaces, and poses serious health risks especially to unvaccinated children, who may experience severe symptoms and complications like pneumonia and encephalitis.
• Individuals fully vaccinated with two doses of the measles vaccine or born before 1957 are generally protected, while unvaccinated persons exposed to the virus should monitor for symptoms for three weeks and seek medical advice promptly.
• Measles cases have surged in the U.S. recently, with 1,748 reported cases so far in 2024, despite the disease being declared eliminated in 2020; maintaining a vaccination rate of at least 95% is critical for herd immunity.
• Maryland’s kindergarten vaccination rate remains high at 96.4% for 2024-25, surpassing the national average, though federal health leaders have issued mixed messages on vaccines, with some officials urging vaccination and others expressing skepticism.