Person With Measles Visited Arlington Grocery Store, Health Officials Warn

ARLINGTON, VA — Arlington health officials are warning the public after a person with a confirmed case of measles visited a local grocery store while contagious.

According to the Arlington County Public Health Division, the person was in Virginia from out of state when they visited Harris Teeter at 624B N. Glebe Rd.

Anyone at the store between 12-4 p.m. on July 1 may have been exposed, health officials said.

Measles is a contagious virus that spreads through the air when an infected person sneezes or coughs. A person will be contagious four days before the rash appears and for four days after the rash appears, according to health officials. They are no longer contagious on the fifth day after the rash started.

Early symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes. Three to five days after a person experiences initial symptoms, a rash of red spots appears on the face and then spreads over the entire body.

Vaccination remains the best way to prevent measles, according to health officials. Anyone who has received two doses of a measles-containing vaccine is considered immune and unlikely to get measles.

If a person is unvaccinated and was possibly exposed, they should watch for symptoms until July 22. If symptoms appear, stay home and away from others and contact a healthcare provider right away.