On March 10, 2023, health officials in Maryland confirmed the state's first case of measles for the year, as the disease continues to spread in states like Texas and New Mexico. The Maryland Department of Health issued a statement on Sunday indicating that a resident from Howard County, who recently traveled internationally, has tested positive for this highly contagious virus.
In light of this development, health officials are urging individuals who were present at specific locations during designated times to be on alert. Anyone who visited Terminal A of Washington Dulles International Airport between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. on Wednesday, or the Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center Pediatric Emergency Department between 3:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Friday may have been exposed to the measles virus. To ensure public safety, the health department is actively working to identify and contact individuals who may have been in close proximity to the infected person.
Details regarding the patient’s identity and the specific country they visited have not been disclosed to the public. Additionally, the vaccination status of the infected individual remains confidential. Health officials have confirmed that this case is not linked to the ongoing outbreak in West Texas and New Mexico, where at least two fatalities and approximately 230 infections have been reported. In fact, Texas health officials have documented at least 198 measles cases, while New Mexico reported a surge from 10 to 30 confirmed cases within a single day.
Maryland is not alone in facing this health challenge. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed measles cases in at least 13 jurisdictions this year, which include New Mexico and Texas, as well as Alaska, California, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, New Jersey, New York City, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Washington. It's noteworthy that measles remains rare in New Mexico, where only one case was recorded in each of the past two years, following a period from 2020 to 2022 with no reported cases.
Measles was officially declared eliminated from the United States in 2000; however, the recent outbreaks highlight the risks associated with unvaccinated individuals. The resurgence of measles cases can be attributed to the increasing number of people who are not vaccinated. Health experts continue to advocate for vaccination as the most effective means of preventing the spread of measles and protecting public health.
