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Health officials report major flu season winding down; measles monitored after international importation
Summary
Public health officials told the committee that Prince George's County experienced a severe 2024–25 influenza season with elevated hospitalizations; targeted school clinics and expanded outreach were deployed. Officials also briefed the committee on a measles case linked to international travel and said they are monitoring exposed contacts.
Prince George's County Health Department officials told the Health, Human Services and Public Safety Committee that this influenza season produced higher hospitalization rates than recent years and that the county has responded with focused school clinics, community vaccination opportunities and outbreak investigations. Officials also reported one confirmed measles case imported via international travel and said they are monitoring close contacts.
Dr. Matt Levy, the county health officer, described the 2024–25 national influenza season as “very bad” with a national hospitalization rate of 13.6 percent in the peak period compared with 8.9 percent the prior year. Locally, Prince George's County experienced elevated influenza-like illness; officials reported a county vaccination rate of about 24.1 percent, below the Maryland average of roughly 31 percent.
Health staff outlined outbreak investigations at schools with high absenteeism. James Madison Middle School reported roughly 80–85 influenza-like illnesses at peak; public-health staff and school nurses coordinated vaccine clinics that immunized about 260 people at one event. Dr. Levy described the clinics and outreach as “very successful operations” and said the county would schedule additional clinics at affected schools.
On measles, Dr. Levy said the county received an imported case in a child who had recently traveled from Abu Dhabi; the child’s nasal swab tested positive and one passenger on the same flight is being monitored. Officials noted that measles is highly contagious — about 90 percent of susceptible people exposed will become infected — but county and state school-age immunization rates (reported at about 96–97 percent) provide overall community protection.
The department urged vaccination: flu vaccines reduce the likelihood of severe illness and hospital visits, and the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine is given at age 1 with a second dose around ages 4–6. Officials said they are expanding outreach, providing multilingual materials, and offered to coordinate with council members to amplify messaging and clinics in community locations such as shopping centers and libraries.
Committee members asked about vaccine schedules and federal guidance; staff said county recommendations follow CDC and Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices guidance and noted some federal-level program adjustments under review. The county also requested council assistance distributing a community health assessment survey and said it will continue coordinating with Prince George's County Public Schools, congregate facilities and community partners to track and respond to both flu and measles.
