Case of measles confirmed in D.C. as vaccination concerns rise

WASHINGTON — The measles outbreak that originated in a California theme park is now in 14 states. People who’ve gotten sick range in age from 57 years to 10 months old. Most have not been vaccinated.

A D.C. Department of Public Health official confirmed to WTOP that a case of measles was reported in D.C. in January 2015.

That has health experts recommending people of all ages get immunized against all types of ailments

“People are coming to our country from areas where diseases are common that are not common here. Also people from our area travel to those areas,” says Loudoun Health Department Director Dr. David Goodfriend.

Goodfriend notes that people may choose to avoid vaccines for religious or other reasons. “If we choose not to vaccinate because we don’t think our children will come into contact with this infection — then really, we’re just playing Russian roulette,” he says.

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