Measles Exposure Reported at Elkton, Maryland Emergency Department

The Maryland Department of Health has warned that anyone who visited the ChristianaCare Union Hospital emergency department in Elkton, Maryland, between 3 p.m. and 7:15 p.m. on Thursday may have been exposed to measles after an out‑of‑state patient with the virus was treated there. The state, which has confirmed 12 measles cases in 2026, advises people who are not fully vaccinated – defined as having received two doses of the vaccine or being born before 1957 – to monitor for symptoms for up to 21 days and to contact a health‑care provider if signs appear.

Early symptoms include fever above 101 °F, runny nose, cough, red watery eyes, and a red rash that typically starts on the face and spreads. Officials note that measles is highly contagious, spreading through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes, and can remain airborne for up to two hours after the person leaves an area. They urge anyone who develops symptoms to call a health‑care provider before seeking care at a clinic or hospital to help prevent further spread.