Health Officials Say Amtrak Passenger Had Measles

Published October 27, 2015

Amtrak's high speed Acela at Washington's Union Station seen after U.S. Vice President Joe Biden announced in Philadelphia that the U.S. government will dedicate $53 billion over six years to build new high-speed rail networks and make existing ones faster, February 8, 2011. (Reuters)

Virginia health officials have issued an alert about possible measles exposure on an Amtrak train.

The Washington Post reports that Virginia Health Department spokeswoman Maribeth Brewster said a foreign visitor to northern Virginia had the measles. The visitor took Amtrak's Northeast regional train No. 171 from Philadelphia on Wednesday. Health officials are advising anyone who took that train to check their vaccination status.

Measles are highly contagious and can be spread through coughing and sneezing and by contact with nasal, oral or throat secretions from an infected person.

Brewster said symptoms from an Aug. 17 exposure could develop until Sept. 7.

She said the visitor developed measles outside the United States and showed symptoms only after arriving in this country.

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