Health Department

From the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) was notified of a confirmed case of measles at Washington Dulles International Airport and the Washington Area Metro on Sunday, June 8. The confirmed case is an international traveler visiting the Washington, D.C. area. Health officials are coordinating an effort to identify people who might have been exposed, including contacting potentially exposed passengers on specific flights. Listed below is the date, time, and location of the potential exposure site: Dulles International Airport (IAD) on Sunday, June 8: Concourse A, on transportation to the International Arrivals Building (IAB), and in the baggage claim area between 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Washington Area Metro on Sunday, June 8: Silver Line Train from Dulles International Airport station transferring at the Metro Center Station to the Red Line Train heading towards Shady Grove Station between 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. To date in 2025, Virginia has three reported cases of measles. For the latest information on measles cases and exposures in Virginia, please visit the VDH Measles website. What should you do if you were at the above locations on the day and time specified? If you have received two doses of a measles-containing vaccine, or were born before 1957, you are protected and do not need to take any action. If you have never received a measles containing vaccine (either the measles, mumps and rubella [MMR] vaccine or a measles-only vaccine which is available in other countries), you may be at risk of developing measles. Anyone who might have been exposed and is considered to be at risk of developing measles should contact their healthcare provider immediately. Non-immune individuals may qualify for post-exposure treatments. People who might have been exposed and are not immune should contact their health care provider or local health department immediately to coordinate administration of post-exposure prophylaxis. Watch for symptoms for 21 days after the date of your potential exposure. If you notice symptoms of measles, immediately isolate yourself by staying home. Contact your healthcare provider right away. If you need to seek healthcare, call ahead before going to your healthcare provider’s office or the emergency room to notify them that you may have been exposed to measles and ask them to call the local health department. This call will help protect other patients and staff. Anyone with an immunocompromising condition should consult with their healthcare provider if they have questions or develop symptoms. If you have received only one dose of a measles-containing vaccine, you are very likely to be protected and your risk of being infected with measles from any of these exposures is very low. However, to achieve the highest level of protection, contact your healthcare provider about getting a second vaccine dose. Measles is a highly contagious illness that can spread easily through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes. Measles symptoms usually appear in two stages. In the first stage, most people have a fever of greater than 101 degrees, runny nose, watery red eyes, and a cough. These symptoms usually start seven to fourteen days after being exposed. The second stage starts three to five days after symptoms start, when a rash begins to appear on the face and spreads to the rest of the body. People with measles are contagious from four days before the rash appears through four days after the rash appeared. Measles is preventable through a safe and effective MMR vaccine. Two doses of the vaccine are given to provide lifetime protection. Virginia has high measles vaccination rates, with approximately 95% of kindergarteners fully vaccinated against measles. However, infants who are too young to be vaccinated, and others who are not vaccinated, are very susceptible to infection if they are exposed to measles. Infants six months through 11 months of age who will be traveling internationally, or to an outbreak setting, should receive one dose of MMR vaccine prior to travel. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have questions about the MMR vaccine. To check your immunization status, call your healthcare provider or request your vaccination records using the VDH Immunization Record Request Form. Virginia residents with additional questions about their potential exposure can email epi_response@vdh.virginia.gov or contact your local health department. For more information about measles, visit www.vdh.virginia.gov/measles/.

In the midst of day-to-day life, men's health can be, and often is, overlooked. As we recognize and honor dads across the country this Father's Day weekend, take time to focus on men's health with some important conversations and reminders. Here are five easy things you can talk about: Preventive care is key: Men die an average of 5 years earlier than women, often from preventable conditions. Routine check-ups and screenings are crucial for early detection of health issues.   Early detection makes a difference: Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer among men. Catching cancer early often allows more treatment options. Talk to your doctor about what cancer screenings might be right for you.  Know your numbers: 50.8% of men ages 18 and older in the United States have high blood pressure. High blood pressure and high cholesterol can lead to serious health problems. By knowing and understanding your cholesterol and blood pressure numbers, you can take the steps necessary to stay healthy.  Talk about mental health and seek support: Mental health conditions, such as depression and anxiety, often go undiagnosed in men due to stigma. It has also been found that suicide rates among men are significantly higher. Anybody can experience mental health issues and there is no shame in asking for help. The Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board offers counseling, medication, crisis response, resources, and other services for people of all ages with mental health concerns.   Prioritize your health and wellbeing: A study found only 28.3% of men ages 18 and older in the United States met physical activity guidelines. Everyday activities such as exercising, eating healthy, and getting enough sleep can help prevent serious health conditions.   Give the gift of good conversation, disease prevention and healthy habits this Father’s Day! 

Take pride in your health. Did you know? As of 2022, nearly 1.2 million Americans were reported to be living with HIV. It is estimated that 13% of the people who live with HIV in the U.S. don't know they have it. While no vaccine exists yet, the availability of antiretroviral drugs and constantly improving treatment options now make it possible for an HIV patient to live a full and healthy life. Source: HIV.gov Each year, June 27 is recognized as National HIV Testing Day to call attention to the importance of knowing your status as well as learning about options for HIV prevention and treatment. HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is the virus that can cause AIDS if it isn’t treated. The only way to know for sure if you have HIV, is to get tested. This is also true for other a sexually transmitted infections (STIs), like syphilis, gonorrhea, or chlamydia. People who have HIV or an STI may still feel healthy and be unaware that they have an infection. However, these infections can cause serious health problems and be spread to others if left untreated. If you are sexually active, STI testing is one of the most important things you can do to protect your health. When you know your status, you have powerful information to keep you and your partners healthy. Most infections can be cured, and all are treatable. Throughout the last week of June, the Fairfax County Health Department is offering free HIV and STI testing and education at our health clinics. If needed, care and treatment support will also be offered. Free walk-in testing is available only at the following times and locations:  Monday, June 23, from 1:00 - 4:00 pm at the Annandale District Office Tuesday, June 24, from 2:00 - 6:00pm at the Springfield District Office Wednesday, June 25, from 1:00 - 4:00pm at the Joseph Willard Health Center Thursday, June 26, from 1:00 - 4:00pm at the Herndon Reston District Office Friday, June 27, from 8:00am - 12:00pm at the Mt. Vernon District Office There will also be a limited amount of free Syphilis Self-Test kits to be given to partner(s) of clients who test positive for Syphilis. Take pride in your health by knowing your status. Additional Information Learn more about HIV and STIs from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  Learn more about HIV/AIDS and STIs services from the Fairfax County Health Department.