Maryland health authorities are alerting the public about possible measles exposure at several locations in Ocean City earlier this month. The infected individual was from out of state and visited three different spots while contagious, according to the Maryland Department of Health. Contact tracing is currently underway to locate and notify anyone who might have been exposed during specific timeframes.
Health officials have warned of possible measles exposures in Ocean City, the St. Louis area and Cincinnati as they trace contacts and urge exposed residents to watch for symptoms.
The locations and times of exposure include dates from September 3 through September 6, with certain hours noted for each, according to wtop.com. Health officials emphasized that the overall risk remains low for those who are fully vaccinated. Measles spreads through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes.
The Casablanca Oceanside Inn was listed from 4 p.m. Sept. 3 through noon Sept. 6. Buona Vita Pizzeria was listed from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sept. 3. The Bonfire Restaurant was listed from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sept. 5.
The virus can stay active in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves a space. People who were at one of these places during the specified times should watch for symptoms over the next 21 days. Early signs of infection include a fever above 101 degrees, runny nose, cough, and red or watery eyes.
A red rash usually appears one to four days after initial symptoms begin, starting on the face and spreading across the body. Symptoms typically develop 10 to 14 days after exposure but can develop as soon as seven days and as long as 21 days after exposure. Anyone experiencing symptoms should avoid public places and contact a healthcare provider immediately.
Health officials recommend calling ahead before visiting any doctor’s office or emergency room to prevent further spread.
Those who have received two doses of a measles-containing vaccine or were born before 1957 are generally considered protected. So far in 2026, Maryland has confirmed a total of 40 measles cases, according to the state health department.
In St. Louis County, Missouri, public health leaders have confirmed the first measles case from a local resident in two decades, according to a report from fox2now.com. The individual was fully vaccinated and reportedly traveled on a train from Sedalia, Missouri to Chicago on August 27 before being diagnosed. Health officials from St. Louis County are working with state and local partners to identify those who may have been exposed.
Since that diagnosis Missouri officials have warned of possible exposures at eight St. Louis-area locations from Sept. 12 through Sept. 14. Those locations include Busch Stadium and businesses in St. Louis as well as Pacific and Chesterfield. State officials said those exposures were connected to a third Missouri case linked to the Aug. 27 train exposure.
Measles is a highly contagious airborne disease that spreads when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or even breathes. The virus can remain in the environment for up to two hours after an infected person leaves a location. Symptoms typically begin between seven and 14 days after exposure, but can appear as late as 21 days.
Early symptoms include high fever, cough, runny nose, and red or watery eyes. Small white spots inside the mouth, known as Koplik spots, may appear two to three days after symptoms start. A measles rash typically develops three to five days after the first symptoms begin.
The best way to protect against measles is through vaccination with the MMR vaccine, which provides about 97% protection after two doses.
Residents who are unsure of their vaccination status or believe they may have been exposed should contact a healthcare provider for guidance. In Cincinnati, two people who live out-of-state visited an emergency department on Burnet Avenue with symptoms consistent with measles on Monday, wlwt.com reported.
These individuals were exposed to measles in their home state and have since been discharged from the hospital and returned to their home state. The health department did not reveal which state they are from. Cincinnati Health Department and Cincinnati Children’s have identified people who may have been exposed and are contacting them directly by phone.
Symptoms of measles include a rash, high fever, runny nose, cough, loss of appetite, and red or watery eyes. Potential exposure times were Monday, Sept. 14, between 5:40 p.m. and 7:48 p.m., and between 11:15 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 14 and 1:15 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 15, during the hours noted for the emergency department. These timeframes only cover exposure at the emergency department and do not include other areas of the hospital or other parts of Cincinnati.
IMAGE: CDC CC0