Maryland alerts public to possible measles exposure at three Ocean City venues
State health officials say an out-of-state visitor with measles may have exposed patrons at three Ocean City locations between Sept. 3 and Sept. 6, and are conducting contact tracing.
The Maryland Department of Health announced that an out-of-state individual diagnosed with measles visited three Ocean City establishments while contagious, prompting a contact-tracing effort to notify potentially exposed persons. The venues and exposure windows are: Casablanca Oceanside Inn on Baltimore Avenue from 4 p.m. on Sept. 3 until noon on Sept. 6; Buona Vita Pizzeria on Baltimore Avenue from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Sept. 3; and Bonfire Restaurant on Coastal Highway from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Sept. 5.
Officials said the overall risk remains low for individuals who have received two doses of a measles-containing vaccine or were born before 1957. People who were at any of the sites during the listed times and are not fully vaccinated or otherwise immune are advised to watch for symptoms for 21 days after exposure. Early signs include fever above 101 °F, runny nose, cough, red watery eyes, followed by a rash that typically appears one to four days later, starting on the face.
"Anyone who develops symptoms should stay away from work, school, childcare and other public places and contact a healthcare provider," the department said, adding that patients should call ahead before visiting a doctor’s office or emergency department so appropriate precautions can be taken.
Maryland has recorded 40 measles cases in 2026.