Health officials in Virginia are cautioning travelers who recently passed through Dulles International Airport and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to be vigilant for potential exposure to measles. The warning comes after a person with a confirmed case of measles traveled through Northern Virginia following a trip abroad, according to a news release from the Virginia Department of Health.

The potential exposure occurred in the international arrivals area of the main terminal at Dulles International Airport between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. local time on Jan. 3, and at Terminal A at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport between 2:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 4, the agency stated. Health officials are actively identifying individuals who may have been exposed, including passengers on specific flights.

Those who were potentially exposed and are at risk of developing measles have been advised to monitor themselves for symptoms until January 25, 2024. If symptoms of measles are observed, individuals are urged to self-isolate at home and seek immediate medical attention. Health officials emphasized the importance of contacting healthcare providers in advance and notifying them about potential measles exposure to safeguard other patients and staff.

Measles is highly contagious and is primarily transmitted through respiratory droplets from an infected person, as explained by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The virus can remain airborne for up to two hours after an individual with measles has been in the vicinity. Individuals who have not been previously infected with measles or received the measles vaccine are particularly susceptible to the virus.