A Fairfax County resident is being tested for measles, the Fairfax County Health Department announced Tuesday.
Health officials say test results will not be known for 24 hours. The person is currently in self-isolation at home. Potential exposure sites are being identified.
The health department says it will release more information once the test results are available. If the results are positive, a news conference will be held late Wednesday afternoon.
One case of measles was confirmed in the District last week. The patient was diagnosed in January, and the case is related to international travel.
Measles is a highly contagious respiratory disease that causes fever, red and sore eyes, runny nose, cough and a characteristic rash. The disease can cause severe health complications, including pneumonia, encephalitis and death.
Measles is transmitted by contact with an infected person through coughing or sneezing and can remain in the air and on surfaces for up to two hours. Infected people are contagious from four days before their rash starts through four days afterwards.
Health officials say people who have received at least one dose of measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine in the past are at very low risk of being infected.
