Target in Reston with snow in the parking lot (file photo)

In addition to enduring a winter storm, anyone who shopped at Target in Reston around noon on Jan. 25 may have been exposed to measles.

The department store at 12197 Sunset Hills Road is one of five different locations in western Fairfax County visited late last month by an adult who is now confirmed to have measles, according to the Virginia Department of Health.

VDH isn’t sharing any more identifying information about the individual to protect their privacy, but they reportedly stopped by Target between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Jan. 25.

The other potential exposure sites are:

The Ian apartments (2249 Woodland Grove Place) in Herndon at any time from Friday, Jan. 23 through Saturday, Jan. 31
Kumo Sushi (2338 Woodland Crossing Drive) in Herndon on Saturday, Jan. 24 from 7-10 p.m.
Harris Teeter (12960 Highland Crossing Drive) in Herndon on Sunday, Jan. 25 from 2-5 p.m.
Fairfax County Animal Shelter’s West Ox campus (4500 West Ox Road) in Fairfax on Jan. 31 from 3-6 p.m.

Reasa Currier, director of the Fairfax County Department of Animal Services, says the shelter is working with the Fairfax County Health Department to identify all staff and visitors who might’ve been at risk of infection and provide “the appropriate public health guidance.”

“The only times of concern are the exposure times listed in the [health department] press release,” Currier said. “Additionally, measles virus is no risk to animals, therefore no actions are needed for them.”

This is the fifth measles case reported in Virginia so far this year and the fourth in the state’s northern region, following potential exposures at Fort Belvoir’s medical center, Inova Fairfax Hospital and Dulles International Airport.

The state reported five total cases of measles in all of 2025, VDH says.

Measles cases have soared across the Americas over the past year, mostly among people who haven’t been vaccinated. As of Tuesday (Feb. 3), an outbreak in South Carolina had expanded to 876 people, surpassing one that started in Texas last year to become the largest in the U.S. since the disease was officially eliminated in 2000 — a status the country is at risk of losing.

Potential exposures to measles can be reported to the county health department through an online survey.

People who are up to date on their measles vaccinations don’t need to seek post-exposure treatment, but anyone who isn’t fully vaccinated should contact their health care provider or local health department, VDH says.

Symptoms, such as a fever, runny nose, cough or a red, blotchy rash, typically emerge within 21 days after exposure, so anyone who contracted measles from this newly reported case would most likely become sick by Feb. 21.

“If you notice symptoms of measles, immediately isolate yourself by staying home. Contact your healthcare provider right away,” VDH said. “If you need to seek healthcare, call ahead before going to your healthcare provider’s office or the emergency room to notify them that you may have been exposed to measles and ask them to call the local health department. This call will help protect other patients and staff.”

More from VDH on measles:

Measles is a highly contagious illness that can spread easily through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes. Measles symptoms usually appear in two stages. In the first stage, most people have a fever of greater than 101 degrees, runny nose, watery red eyes, and a cough. These symptoms usually start seven to 14 days after being exposed. The second stage starts three to five days after symptoms start, when a rash begins to appear on the face and spreads to the rest of the body. People with measles are contagious from four days before the rash appears through four days after the rash appeared.

Measles is preventable through a safe and effective MMR vaccine. Two doses of the vaccine are given to provide lifetime protection. Virginia has high measles vaccination rates, with approximately 95% of kindergarteners fully vaccinated against measles. However, infants who are too young to be vaccinated, and others who are not vaccinated, are at high risk of developing measles if they are exposed. Infants six months through 11 months of age who will be traveling internationally, or to an outbreak setting, should receive one dose of MMR vaccine prior to travel. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have questions about the MMR vaccine.