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DC Health officials warn of measles exposures in the District

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DC Health officials warn of measles exposures in the District


WASHINGTON (DC News Now) — Health officials in the District are investigating a potential measles outbreak in Northwest D.C.

An infected individual visited multiple locations in D.C. while contagious. DC Health released the alert just hours after a similar warning was issued in Arlington.

Listed below are the dates, times, and locations of the potential exposure sites associated with this case of measles:

  • CVS Pharmacy: 2226 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Washington D.C. between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Tuesday, July 2.
  • LabCorp: 2233 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Tuesday, July 2.

DC Health warned that measles is a highly contagious illness that spreads easily through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs or sneezes.

Symptoms usually appear in two stages:

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Stage 1: People have a fever of over 101 degrees, runny rose, watery red eyes and a cough. These symptoms usually start between one to two weeks after being exposed.

Stage 2: A rash begins to appear on the face and spread to the body beginning three to five days after symptoms start. People with measles are contagious from four days before the rash appears through four days after the rash appears.

If you have not received a measles vaccine, you may be at risk of contracting the illness.

Anyone who was exposed and is at risk of developing measles should be on the lookout for symptoms until July 23, 2024.

If you notice symptoms, immediately isolate yourself by staying home and away from others, and contact your healthcare provider right away.

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You should call ahead before going to your healthcare provider’s office or the emergency room to notify them you might have been exposed to measles and ask them to call the health department.

DC Health issued the following tips for those who might have been exposed:

  • If you have received two doses of a measles-containing vaccine or were born before 1957, you are protected and do not need to take any action.
  • If you have received only one dose of a measles-containing vaccine, you are very likely to be protected and your risk of being infected with measles from any of these exposures is very low. However, to achieve complete immunity, contact your healthcare provider about getting a second vaccine dose.
  • If you have an immunocompromising condition, please consult with your healthcare provider if you have questions or develop symptoms.

DC Health said that infants younger than a year old are susceptible to infection if they have been exposed.

If you or your child have not yet been vaccinated, you are asked to call DC Health or a healthcare provider to get the first of two doses as soon as possible. To check your immunization status, you can call your healthcare provider or contact DC Health.

You should contact DC Health to report any suspected cases and arrange for public health testing. Suspected cases can be reported by healthcare providers at 844-493-2652 or by submitting a Notifiable Disease and Condition Case Report Form online using the DC Reporting and Surveillance Center (DCRC), which can be found on DC Health’s Infectious Diseases website.

If you have any questions about these potential exposures, you can contact DC Health at 844-493-2652 or via email at doh.epi@dc.gov.

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Washington, D.C

DC officials hold meeting over fallen Garfield Park tree that killed woman

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DC officials hold meeting over fallen Garfield Park tree that killed woman


On Monday night, D.C. officials held a meeting to discuss their response after a tree fell and killed a woman at Garfield Park last week.

The Urban Forestry Division under the District Department of Transportation cares for the more than 170,000 public trees in the District.

A department official said every tree in Garfield Park has been inspected no fewer than three times since 2016.

The tree that killed 35-year-old Sarah Noah of Southeast D.C. was inspected a couple of times in recent years over public requests for pruning.

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READ MORE | Witnesses describe loud noises prior to deadly tree fall in Southeast DC park

One request was in December 2018. Officials said it was inspected that day and pruned four months later.

Another request was made in May 2022. It was inspected that day and pruned two months later.

Inspections showed the tree was listed in good condition with no indication of internal decay.

In fact, in October 2023 the North American Tree Climbing Championships was held in Garfield Park, and that tree was heavily used. Before the competition, experts inspected and assessed the tree and found no issues.

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DDOT said this past April an independent consultant reviewed the trees for an upcoming playground renovation and found no issues with this tree.

DDOT did not provide any explanation as to what caused this accident.

READ MORE | Deadly tree branch incident in DC prompts safety assessment

“Even with that tree having fallen apart, there was no single defect or characteristic that made us go, ah, of course. This is, you may have heard me describe this earlier in the week as unforeseeable,” said DDOT Associate Director for Urban Forestry Division Earl Eutsler.

Attendees expressed concerns about the irrigation system at the park and asked whether the North American Tree Climbing Championships contributed to this accident, but Eutsler said those were not connected to this accident.

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DDOT has reviewed all 261 trees in the park. 215 are in good or excellent condition. 6 are in poor condition and scheduled to be removed. All those trees are rather small.

The median diameter of the trees at Garfield Park is 14 inches. Very few trees are 45 inches or larger in diameter.



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The scene of D.C.’s heat wave: Cooling centers, free water, canceled events

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The scene of D.C.’s heat wave: Cooling centers, free water, canceled events


As the Washington region sweats through another week of scorching temperatures — one of the hottest runs of days on record — and little relief in sight, local governments are warning residents to remain indoors, keep blinds drawn against the sun, take cold showers or baths, and drink water.

The D.C. area on Monday hit record temperatures for the second day in a row, with another high of 101. The weather forced officials to shutter outdoor day camps and sporting events and prompted Prince George’s County to push trash pickup an hour earlier through September.

The Washington Post’s Capital Weather Gang forecasts the earlier half of this week is expected to reach the upper 90s and 100s through Wednesday. Elected leaders from across the region are warning residents to be careful.

“Reminder: we are in an Extended Heat Emergency through Wednesday, July 17,” D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) posted on X Monday morning. “Please stay cool and check on seniors and neighbors.”

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The District has opened up nearly 120 cooling stations across the city for residents at community pools, community centers, and shelters for anyone in need of relief as the city braces for another week of triple-digit weather.

Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center in Annapolis and the company’s Doctors Community Medical Center have seen increased numbers of patients reporting to emergency rooms with symptoms of heat exhaustion, including employees who work outdoors, according to Sunil Madan, chief medical officer at the Lanham site.

Physical conditions can deteriorate over hours if people don’t take the proper precautions to replenish fluids and to rest frequently, in cool environments if possible, Madan said.

More severe heat illnesses can result in organ failure, especially for people who suffer from co-morbidity conditions, Madan said.

“Hydrate. Take breaks. Wear sunscreen. Wear a hat,” Madan said. “The information is out there, the warnings. But I do think the public needs to be more aware and heed. It’s a serious thing.”

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D.C. Fire and EMS Captain Renaldo Bell said medics have responded to treat patients dealing with cramping, heat exhaustion and, in rare cases, heat stroke. Many calls result from people who get overheated while exercising in extreme heat and children who play in pools and lie out in the sun but fail to continually hydrate.

“The pool will keep you cool, but you’re actually sweating with the energy and playing and you’re losing a lot of sodium and electrolytes,” Bell said.

The city’s pools and cooling centers help lessen the number and severity of calls, Bell said, but responders still have concerns about elderly residents who may not venture outside.

“A lot of the time the elderly don’t like a lot of air, and then it gets hotter than they expect,” Bell said. “At this point you’re dealing with the heat stroke type of environments.”

Mild heat-related symptoms include cramping from a lack of replenishment of fluids. But as conditions worsen, heat exhausted patients may feel faint, sweat profusely and deal with nausea symptoms or vomiting, Bell said. People suffering from heat stroke may have headaches, dry skin, vomiting or fall unconscious.

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Maryland’s most populated county — Montgomery — has opted to not open cooling centers, but is urging residents seeking relief to head to public buildings such as libraries and community centers this week.

“We don’t specifically set up specific buildings for cooling centers because historically we believe the majority of residents have access to air conditions,” said Mary Anderson, a county spokesperson. “That said, at the drop of the hat, we are ready to set up cooling stations if, for example, we knew all of Wheaton was without power.”

Free water will be available on Montgomery County Ride On buses.

In Prince George’s County, outdoor programs have been canceled while cooling stations remain open. The county has also opted to move trash removal one hour earlier due to conditions outside. Outdoor recreational programs in Prince George’s have been canceled for Monday.

Fairfax County in Virginia has also opened cooling stations. The county school district announced all activities such as team practices and other outdoor extracurriculars have been canceled.

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As of Monday afternoon, the county had not closed any camps or parks. “We continue to encourage all parents — particularly those parents of participants in outdoor camps — to make sure their child comes prepared with appropriate clothing, water bottle and sun protection,” said county spokesperson Ben Boxer.

The city of Alexandria has suspended all outdoor programming until 8 p.m. Monday. This includes organized sports and camps, according to Ebony Fleming, the chief spokesperson. The parks are still open.

Loudoun County has also not yet closed parks or community facilities, according to Kraig Troxell, a spokesperson for the Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Services. Cooling centers are open for residents.



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13-year-old charged with armed carjacking at Northwest DC gas station

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13-year-old charged with armed carjacking at Northwest DC gas station


WASHINGTON (DC News Now) — Police in D.C. said officers arrested a 13-year-old boy in connection to an armed carjacking that took place at an Exxon gas station in Northwest.

Around 2:40 a.m. on Saturday, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) said the teen approached the victim with a gun in the 3500 block of Connecticut Avenue, Northwest, and demanded the keys to the car. The victim complied and the teen drove away.

Police said shortly after, officers located the vehicle and the 13-year-old in Southeast.

Police arrested and charged him with armed carjacking.

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According to data from the MPD, carjackings are down across the District by nearly 50%.



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