03/05/2026
🚨 Virginia Health Officials Investigating Potential Measles Exposure in Southwest Region 🚨
The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) has been notified of a confirmed measles case involving an out-of-state resident who traveled internationally and was in Virginia’s Southwest Region on Monday, March 2.
To protect patient privacy, no additional information about the individual will be shared. VDH is actively working to identify anyone who may have been exposed.
📍 Potential Exposure Site:
• Centra Lynchburg General Hospital – Emergency Department
1901 Tate Springs Road, Lynchburg
🕙 10:15 a.m. – 1:15 p.m.
📅 Monday, March 2
Any additional exposure sites will be posted on the VDH Measles website.
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❗ What To Do If You Were There
While most Virginians are protected through vaccination and the overall risk to the public is low, anyone present at the above location during the listed time should:
✅ Report your exposure to VDH by completing the short survey (available on the VDH website).
✅ Check your vaccination status (MMR vaccine). Contact your healthcare provider or request records through the VDH Record Request Portal.
• If you have received two doses of MMR vaccine or were born before 1957, you are considered protected.
✅ If you are not fully vaccinated or unsure of your immunity, contact your healthcare provider or local health department immediately. Post-exposure treatment is only effective within a short timeframe.
✅ Monitor for symptoms for 21 days after exposure (most likely between March 9 – March 23).
If you develop symptoms:
• Stay home and isolate immediately.
• Call your healthcare provider before going in.
• Notify them of possible measles exposure so they can take precautions.
• You may also contact your local health department or email epi_response@vdh.virginia.gov.
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ℹ️ About Measles
Measles is a highly contagious disease that spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
Symptoms typically appear in two stages:
1. Fever (over 101°F), runny nose, red watery eyes, and cough (7–14 days after exposure).
2. A rash that begins on the face and spreads to the body (3–5 days after initial symptoms).
Individuals are contagious four days before the rash appears and four days after.
Measles is preventable with the safe and effective MMR vaccine. Two doses provide lifetime protection. Virginia maintains strong vaccination coverage, with approximately 95% of kindergarteners fully vaccinated.
Infants (6–11 months) traveling internationally or to outbreak areas should receive one MMR dose prior to travel. Talk to your healthcare provider with questions.
To date in 2026, Virginia has reported 10 measles cases.
For more information, visit: www.vdh.virginia.gov/measles/
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Measles General Information Measles in Virginia: 2026 More information The virus is released when an infected person breathes or coughs. It spreads easily from person to person through the air or by direct contact with nose or throat discharges from someone who is infected. Measles symptoms include....
