NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — The Virginia Department of Health confirmed the state’s first measles case of 2025 in a Saturday announcement.

The agency said a child 4 or under living in the state’s northwest health region contracted the disease after recent international travel.

“This first case of measles in Virginia this year is a reminder of how easily this highly contagious disease can spread, particularly with international travel,” said Laurie Forlano, VDH state epidemiologist.

Forlano said vaccination remains the best defense against measles and remains safe and effective at protecting people and preventing outbreaks. She encouraged Virginians to get the measles inoculation if needed.

The health agency said exposure sites for the measles case include from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 15, at Kaiser Permanente Caton Hill Medical Center, advanced urgent care in Woodbridge and from 12-5 p.m. Wednesday, April 16, at Kaiser Permanente Fredericksburg Medical Center’s pediatrics department.

VDH encouraged those who may have been exposed who have never taken a measles vaccine to contact their health care providers.

Measles is highly contagious and spreads through the air, the health agency said. Symptoms first include a fever of greater than 101 degrees, runny nose, watery red eyes, and a cough and appear seven to 14 days after exposure. Three to five days after symptoms begin, a rash begins to appear on the face and spreads to the rest of the body.

As of Thursday, there have been 800 confirmed measles cases in the United States in 2025, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Around 96% of the confirmed cases were unvaccinated or had an unknown vaccine status. Two people have died from measles this year and a third death is under investigation, according to the CDC.

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