Washington, D.C. — Health officials are investigating potential measles exposures linked to the National March for Life rally and related events held in the nation’s capital in late January, raising concerns about a possible uptick in cases amid a national outbreak.
Measles Concerns Rise After Rally, Exposures Reported
Confirmed cases may have spread at the annual anti-abortion demonstration, prompting health alerts for attendees and travelers.
- The DC Department of Health is working to identify individuals potentially exposed to measles at multiple locations.
- Exposure sites include Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Union Station, and the D.C. subway system.
- The U.S. is currently experiencing its largest measles outbreak in decades, with 733 confirmed cases in 20 states as of last Thursday.
- South Carolina is battling a significant outbreak, with 920 confirmed cases as of Friday.
Thousands of demonstrators participated in the annual March for Life rally on January 23, converging on the National Mall and surrounding areas. The DC Department of Health announced Sunday that it had been notified of multiple confirmed measles cases involving individuals who were contagious while visiting various locations in the District.
Q: What should people who attended the March for Life do?
A: If you are not fully vaccinated against measles or have a compromised immune system, the DC Health Department advises contacting them or your healthcare provider if you believe you may have been exposed between January 21 and February 2.
Potential exposure sites identified by DC Health include major transportation hubs like Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Union Station, and an Amtrak Northeast Regional train. The city’s subway system is also listed as a potential exposure location. Additionally, infected individuals visited the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception and Catholic University.
The U.S. is grappling with a substantial measles outbreak. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 733 confirmed cases across 20 states as of last Thursday. According to the CDC, a staggering 95% of these cases involved individuals who were unvaccinated or whose vaccination status is unknown.
South Carolina is currently at the epicenter of a particularly large outbreak, which began in October 2025. The state’s Department of Public Health reported 44 new confirmed cases on Friday, bringing the total to 920. While officials noted a recent slowing in the rate of new cases, they warn of potential exposures at locations including a Target store in Taylors, S.C., and a Social Security Administration office in Spartanburg, S.C. The outbreak is largely concentrated in Spartanburg.
During a Sunday interview on CNN’s State of the Union, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Mehmet Oz urged Americans to get vaccinated against measles. The Trump administration has recently rolled back the number of diseases it recommends immunizations for, but federal guidance regarding measles vaccinations remains unchanged.
Global health organizations are expressing concern over the spread of measles within the United States. The World Health Organization’s Pan American Health Organization has invited the U.S. to a meeting in April to review the country’s measles elimination status. The U.S. is at risk of losing its status as a country that has eradicated the disease. Last month, the Trump administration formally completed its withdrawal from the WHO.
The DC Health Department is advising anyone who may have been exposed and is not fully vaccinated or has a weakened immune system to contact the department or their healthcare provider for guidance.
