DC measles confirmed

A case of the measles has been confirmed in D.C., an official for the city’s health department said Tuesday.

Mahlori Isaacs, a spokeswoman for the D.C. Department of Health, wrote in a statement that the case is the result of “international travel.” That means it is unrelated to the ongoing measles outbreak in California that has grabbed headlines nationally since December.

{mosads}That outbreak — which is shaping up to be the largest since the U.S. eradicated the disease more than a decade ago — also sparked a heated political debate this week after two high-profile Republicans questioned whether parents should be told to vaccinate their children.

About 95 percent of people across the country have been vaccinated against the highly contagious disease, though a growing number of communities have resisted the shots because of safety concerns that scientists say are unfounded.

Two cases of the measles were reported in Northern Virginia last year and another case was reported in Maryland in 2013.

D.C. is considered a higher risk for the measles because of its proximity to international airports. While the disease is rare in the U.S., it remains common in parts of the world with less-developed healthcare systems.