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False claim possible DC-area measles exposure is 'Disease X' | Fact check

Andre Byik   Paste BN
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The claim: Possible measles exposure at Washington DC airports is 'Disease X'

A Jan. 17 Instagram video (direct link, archive link) shows a TV news report about possible measles exposure in early January at Washington, D.C.-area airports.

"BREAKING: Reports are coming in that passengers in the state of Virginia might have been exposed to highly contagious Measles," reads the video's on-screen text, which includes the phrase "Election 2024" and a red arrow pointing to the words "Disease X."

The Instagram post was liked 400 times in one day. A similar version of the video was also shared widely on TikTok.

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Our rating: False

The possible exposure event at the Washington, D.C.-area airports was related to a case of measles, a highly contagious, known viral disease that vaccination can prevent. There is no evidence it is related to an unknown "Disease X."

Transmission threat low in confirmed measles case, DC Health says

The District of Columbia's health department said in a Jan. 16 press release that it was notified of a confirmed case of measles in a person who traveled through Dulles International Airport on Jan. 3 and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Jan. 4.

The health department said the threat of transmission was low. It warned that people may be at risk of developing measles if exposed and not vaccinated against the disease. Vulnerable people were asked to watch for symptoms – including fever, fatigue, cough and a telltale rash – until Jan. 25.

The Virginia Department of Health issued a related advisory on Jan. 13.

But there is no evidence the possible exposure is related to "Disease X."

The term "Disease X" refers to a hypothetical novel infectious agent that could cause an international epidemic or pandemic, according to the World Health Organization. The WHO states it is used as a stand-in for a high-risk pathogen that is not yet known and for which the world has no countermeasures.

There are no reputable reports – either from health or news organizations – that a potential measles exposure in early January at Washington, D.C.-area airports is related to an unknown pathogen, as the Instagram post claims.

Measles is a known viral disease that, while highly contagious, can be prevented through vaccination, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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The disease has been considered eliminated from the U.S. since 2000 due to an effective vaccination program, according to the CDC. The eliminated designation, as defined by the WHO, means the disease is no longer endemic – or constantly present – in the country. But measles is still common in other parts of the world, and according to the CDC it is brought into the U.S. every year by unvaccinated travelers.

In 2023, there were 56 reported cases of measles in the U.S., according to the CDC.

The Instagram post also suggests without evidence that the emergence of a "Disease X" is a political plot linked to the 2024 election year. Paste BN previously debunked the claim that new epidemics are connected to major election years.

The Instagram user who shared the video did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

PolitiFact also debunked the claim.

Our fact-check sources:

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