Virginia’s measles outbreak is no longer limited to Buckingham County. Cumberland County is also included in the outbreak, according to a Virginia Department of Health (VDH) news release issued Thursday, June 25.

While the number of measles cases hasn’t changed this week — staying at 106 outbreak-related and 129 total statewide — the news signifies an important change.

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“As this outbreak expands to Cumberland County, I ask for the community’s help to stop measles from gaining further ground by ensuring you are vaccinated,” said Maria Almond, director of Piedmont Health District, a part of VDH, in the June 25 release.

Measles is a highly contagious infectious disease that spreads through the air when an infected person sneezes, coughs or simply breathes. The virus can survive on surfaces for up to two hours. It is, however, effectively preventable with the Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine — two doses of MMR vaccine are 97% effective against measles, according to VDH and The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) .

According to VDH data, Cumberland has lower vaccination rates than Buckingham — only 63.5% of two year olds have at least one dose of vaccine. Only 53.6% of five year olds have both doses.

“A person with measles can spread the virus from four days before until four days after a rash begins, meaning someone can spread measles before they know they are sick,” a VDH health advisory issued earlier this month said.

The expansion of the outbreak area means that residents and visitors of Cumberland County are now also encouraged to take additional precautions, such as making sure they have an MMR vaccination if appropriate, avoiding large gatherings if not vaccinated and staying home and calling their healthcare provider if they suspect they might have measles.

Health officials have issued additional vaccination recommendations for people with connections to Buckingham and Cumberland counties. These recommendations include considering infants over six months eligible for an earlier dose of vaccine to protect them from measles circulating in the community.

Take action

Check your measles vaccine status and learn about measles symptoms

The Virginia Department of Health has declared a measles outbreak in Buckingham and Cumberland counties and is encouraging everyone to check their measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccination status.

To check your MMR vaccination status, use the VDH Record Request Portal or contact your healthcare provider. Learn more about measles symptoms and read frequently asked questions here.

If you believe you were exposed, you can report it here. You can find any new exposure sites reported by VDH here.

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