Multiple Measles Cases Confirmed Across US in 2025 and 2026, Public Exposure Alerts Issued

Here is the formatted article.

Measles Outbreak 2025-2026: A Nationwide Public Health Alert

A series of confirmed measles cases across multiple states in 2025 and 2026 has prompted health officials to issue public exposure alerts. The cases are linked to international travel, domestic travel, and visits to public locations including airports, hospitals, urgent care centers, and entertainment venues.

Measles is highly contagious. The virus can remain in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves an area.

Summary of Cases and Exposure Events

• LAX and Hilton Hotel (June 2025): A traveler arrived on Cathay Pacific Flight CX 884 on June 11, 2025, and was infectious while passing through the Tom Bradley International Terminal (10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.) and staying at the Hilton Los Angeles Airport Hotel (11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.). This was reported as the sixth case in Los Angeles County in 2025.
• Sherman Oaks Restaurant (January 2026): A third case in Los Angeles County within one week involved an individual who visited Mardi Gras Tuesday restaurant on Ventura Boulevard on January 24, 2026, from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
• LAX and Disneyland (January 2026): An international traveler arrived at LAX on January 26, 2026, and subsequently visited Disneyland and a fast-food establishment in the San Fernando Valley while infectious.
• General: The U.S. recorded 588 confirmed measles cases as of January 30, 2026. Research published in Nature Health indicated an elevated risk of contracting measles in significant portions of the country, citing declining vaccination rates. Two counties in Southern California were identified as being in a "very high risk" category.

• Disneyland (January 2026): Three cases were confirmed in Orange County in early 2026, all linked to visits to Disneyland.
  • Case 1: An international traveler visited Disney California Adventure Park (12:30 p.m. to closing) and Goofy’s Kitchen in Downtown Disney (10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.) on a Wednesday in January.
  • Case 2: An infectious visitor attended Disneyland Park (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.) and Disney California Adventure Park (3 p.m. to closing) on January 22, 2026.
  • Case 3: This case was linked to the first case, involving a visit to Disneyland in January.
• Ladera Ranch and Urgent Care (January 2026): A separate case in a young adult who traveled internationally was confirmed, involving visits to a gym in Ladera Ranch and an urgent care facility on January 23 and 26.

• Baltimore Area (April 2025): A resident with international travel history was confirmed. Potential exposure sites included BWI Marshall Airport (April 12, 7:50 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.), FastMed Urgent Care (April 14 & 17), and Sinai Hospital Emergency Department (April 17, 3:30 p.m. – 7:10 p.m.).
• Dulles Airport and D.C. (April 2025): Two confirmed cases led to potential exposure at Dulles International Airport (April 23 and 24) and multiple Metrorail lines (April 23-27).
• Maryland Resident at Dulles Airport and D.C. Urgent Care (June 2025): A confirmed case involved travel through Dulles International Airport (Concourse C, International Arrivals Building, baggage claim, June 17, 6:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.) and a visit to Mary's Center urgent care clinic in Northwest D.C. (June 17, 4:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.).
• Travel through BWI and D.C. (January 2025): An individual traveled by Amtrak from Philadelphia's 30th Street Station to D.C.'s Union Station (January 7, 9 p.m. – 11:30 p.m.) and used shuttle buses at BWI Marshall Airport (January 7 – January 8).
• Fort Belvoir, Virginia (January 2025): A preschool-aged child was identified as Virginia’s second case of the year. Potential exposure sites included the Alexander T. Augusta Military Medical Center Emergency Department and Executive Medicine Suite (Friday, 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. and 10 p.m. – midnight).

• Northern Virginia (January 2026):
  • A third case was reported in a child. Potential exposure sites included PM Pediatric Urgent Care in Woodbridge (January 13), Inova Children’s Emergency Department in Falls Church (January 15-16), and Inova Fairfax Hospital Women’s and Children’s Building (January 17-18).
  • A fifth case was reported in an adult. Potential exposure sites in Herndon, Reston, and Fairfax included The Ian Apartment Complex (Jan 23-31), Kumo Sushi (Jan 24), Target (Jan 25), Harris Teeter (Jan 25), and Fairfax County Animal Shelter (Jan 31).
• Fairfax County (February 2026): An adult who recently traveled internationally was confirmed. Potential exposure sites in Lorton included Giant Food (Feb 11), Inova-GoHealth Urgent Care (Feb 13), and Inova HealthPlex Lorton Emergency Room (Feb 14).
• Reagan National Airport and Metro (January 2026): A preschool-age child from another state traveled through Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (Terminal 2, Jan 26, 12:30 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.) and used the Metro Yellow Line (Jan 26, 8:30 p.m. – 11:30 p.m.). A potential exposure site was also identified at Heathcote Health Center in Haymarket (Jan 29).
• Manassas (February 2026): Two new cases involved adults. Potential exposure sites included Harris Teeter, Walmart, Marco’s Pizza, Bull Run Unitarian Universalists, Best Buy Outlet, Mountaintop Church, Lidl, and Target in Manassas, as well as a medical center in Gainesville and an office building in Alexandria (Feb 13-17).
• Lynchburg (March 2026): A patient was receiving care at Centra Lynchburg General Hospital. The potential exposure site was the hospital's Emergency Department (March 2, 10:15 a.m. – 1:15 p.m.).

• Bethesda Office Building (February 2026): A Virginia resident with measles was present at an office building at 7200 Wisconsin Ave. on February 10, 2026. Potential exposure time was between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m.

• Montgomery County (January 2026): An individual who tested positive visited Patient First Primary and Urgent Care in Collegeville on January 29, 2026, from 1:15 p.m. to 4:15 p.m.
• Philadelphia International Airport (February 2026): A person diagnosed with measles was present in Terminal E on February 12, 2026, from 1:35 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

• Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (January 2026): A traveler was present at the airport on January 22, 2026, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Potential exposure areas included A Concourse near Gate A12, International Arrivals Hall at baggage claim 22, and the lower level of baggage claim.
• Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (March 2026): A Canadian resident traveled through the airport on March 9, 2026. The Washington State Department of Health reported 28 measles cases among Washington state residents in 2026.

• Oahu and Hawaii Island (February – March 2026): An adult visitor, who had been vaccinated, was confirmed to have measles. Potential exposure sites included Daniel K. Inouye International Airport on Oahu (Feb 26), Laie Mormon Temple (Feb 27), Hilo International Airport on Hawaii Island (Feb 28 & March 1), Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (Feb 28), and Hilo Siam Thai restaurant (Feb 28).

About Measles

Measles is a highly contagious viral illness. The virus spreads through airborne droplets from an infected person's breathing, coughing, or sneezing, or through direct contact with infectious droplets. The virus can remain in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves an area.

Symptoms typically appear 7 to 14 days after exposure, with a potential onset window of 7 to 21 days.

• Initial symptoms include: fever (often over 101°F), cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes.
• A rash usually appears 3 to 5 days after initial symptoms, starting on the face and spreading to the body.
• An infected person is contagious from four days before the rash appears until four days after it appears.

The MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine is a highly effective preventative measure. Two doses are recommended for children, typically at 12-15 months and 4-6 years of age. Individuals born before 1957 are generally considered protected. Health officials recommend verifying vaccination status with a healthcare provider.

Public Health Guidance

Individuals who may have been exposed to measles at the listed locations and times are advised by health authorities to take the following actions:

1. Verify Vaccination Status: Check with a healthcare provider to confirm MMR vaccination status or history of having had measles.
2. Monitor for Symptoms: Watch for symptoms for 21 days following the potential exposure.
3. Contact a Healthcare Provider: Individuals who are not fully vaccinated or not immune should contact their healthcare provider or local health department immediately, as post-exposure treatments (e.g., vaccine or immune globulin) are time-sensitive.
4. Isolate if Symptomatic: If symptoms develop, stay home and limit interactions with others. Before visiting a healthcare facility, call ahead to inform them of the potential measles exposure.