Montana measles caseload up to 13 after new infections in Flathead, Gallatin and Hill counties
A photo of a woman with measles (Photo by Getty Images).
Montana health officials confirmed additional cases of measles in three counties across the state during the last weeks of May, bringing the statewide count to 13.
Gallatin County first reported cases in April — the state's first measles outbreak in 35 years — and it reported an additional case on May 23 and another May 28. Both new cases are listed as 'community acquired' by the Gallatin City-County Health Department, which states that both cases likely came from the same exposure site.
All Gallatin County cases are no longer in isolation.
In Flathead County, health officials announced Friday that a second case of the communicable disease had been confirmed in a county resident who had recently traveled outside the state.
The individual was hospitalized with symptoms of the illness and has an unknown vaccination status.
Flathead City-County Health Department investigation staff determined two locations of public exposure, and recommend anyone who visited the following locations during the specified dates and times may have been exposed:
Location: The Logan Health building, also known as 'The Rock,' located at 350 Heritage Way, Kalispell, MT 59901, which includes the following Logan Health Clinics: Heart and Lung, Hematology & Oncology, Orthopedics & Sports Medicine-Heritage, Urology
Date & Time: Friday, May 23rd between 2:40 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Location: Logan Health Emergency Department, 350 Conway Drive Kalispell, MT 59901
Date & Time: Monday, May 26th between 6:40 p.m. – 9:10 p.m.
Those who may have been exposed can utilize the health department's Measles Exposure SelfAssessment tool to help determine their next steps: Measles Exposure Self Assessment.
Health Officer Jen Rankosky said that any additional confirmed measles cases and associated exposure locations in the county will be posted on the health department's website.
The Hill County Health Department in Havre also reported a measles case, where the individual has recovered and completed isolation as of May 30.
Measles is a highly infectious airborne disease that spreads when an infected individual coughs, sneezes or talks. Measles can also be spread through touching contaminated surfaces and then touching the mouth, nose or eyes. Symptoms typically begin with a fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, white spots in the mouth and a red rash that appears about 14 days after exposure. The rash usually starts on the face and spreads downward to the rest of the body.
Individuals who are immune to measles through vaccination, laboratory evidence of immunity, laboratory confirmation of disease, or were born before 1957 are not considered at risk for infection. Individuals without prior measles infection or vaccination have a 90% likelihood of contracting the disease if exposed.
If you are unsure of your vaccination status, here are a few places you can review:
Call your old high school, college, or university and ask if they have vaccination records.
Contact your doctor's office, urgent care, or pediatrician. Even if you have not been there in years, they may still have records.
Reach out to the health department where you grew up.
Check your home state immunization registries.
A measles infection is particularly dangerous for infants for whom vaccination is generally not recommended until 12 months of age. Maintaining a high level of vaccination in the community helps protect infants who are too young to be vaccinated, as well as individuals who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons.
Measles continues to be prevalent in many regions worldwide, resulting in an estimated 300 deaths every day. Cases in the U.S. are generally rare but have been increasing in recent years.
The best way to protect against measles is vaccination. No changes have been made to the existing measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine recommendations in the United States. Two doses of MMR, a measles-containing vaccine that protects against measles, mumps and rubella, are 97% to 99% effective in preventing measles. Measles vaccines have been available in the U.S. since 1963, and two doses have been recommended for children since 1989.
If you are in need of the MMR vaccine, please call your primary care physician as soon as possible.
For more information about measles and the measles vaccine, visit the state health department's website. Additional information can also be found on the CDC's website.
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