State Health Officials in Maine Confirm Measles Case in the State

By William Armstead

AUGUSTA— February 6, 2026 is the first time since 2019 in which the Maine Department of Health and Human Services’ Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC) is announcing a case of measles in the state. February 5, 2026, marks the date when the case was confirmed. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S. CDC), there were 733 confirmed measles cases reported nationwide as of February 5th, when the first case in Maine was reported. 

A Penobscot County resident is the culprit. The resident recently traveled to a state with measles cases. This individual had been infected from January 28 up until February 5, 2026. The Maine CDC is informing facilities and individuals where exposure may have come about. 

If individuals were present at the locations and times listed below, they need to take precautions for potential exposure for 21 days after. 

Location

Date

Time

Saint Joseph Hospital, Bangor, Maine Emergency Department

Feb. 3, 2026

8:30 AM – 11AM

Hill View Mini Barns, 1310 Stage Rd, Etna, Maine

Jan. 28, 2026 – Jan 29, 2026

All day

*Subject to change as the investigation continues

Measles is highly contagious. One person who is infected will most likely pass the virus on to 90% of the people close to them. Symptoms include:

  • Fever
  • Cough
  • Runny nose
  • Red, watery eyes
  • Rash that spreads from the head down.

Individuals who develop symptoms should contact their health provider for instructions before showing up to the office to make sure the virus is not passed on further.

Measles can lead to more serious illnesses like pneumonia, encephalitis (brain swelling), and even death. Coughs or sneezes are ways in which the disease is passed. Once infected, a person is contagious from four days before their rash starts through four days afterwards. The virus has a two-hour life span on surfaces and in the air. The period from initial contact to the emergence of symptoms is typically 10 to 14 days, but can be longer.

The measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine is the best prevention for measles. Potentially exposed individuals should review their vaccine history and monitor themselves for the onset of symptoms. Those who are not immunized or do not know their measles immunization status should get vaccinated.

Recommendations: 

  • Children – Identify and vaccinate children who are not up to date with their MMR vaccines. All children should receive two doses of MMR vaccine. The first dose should be administered to children at 12 to 15 months old and the second at 4 to 6 years old.
  • Adults – All adults should have proof of immunity to measles. Acceptable proof includes one of the following:
    • written documentation of vaccination
    • laboratory evidence of immunity
    • birth before 1957
    • or laboratory confirmation of disease
    • individuals who received a measles vaccine between 1963 to 1967 are encouraged to speak with their doctor to determine if additional vaccination is needed. Those known to have received an inactivated dose measles vaccine should receive a single dose of MMR. Five percent of people who received measles vaccine between 1963 and 1967 received an inactivated vaccine.

For adults with no evidence of immunity to measles, the U.S. CDC recommends one dose of MMR vaccine as soon as possible. Adults who are traveling domestically or internationally to a region known to have an active measles outbreak should receive two doses of the vaccine. Pregnant women should not receive any live virus vaccine during pregnancy, including MMR.

Vaccination Information:

  • Two doses of the MMR vaccine have about 97% effectivity at prevention of measles; one dose is about 93% effective.
  • The U.S. CDC considers people who received two doses of MMR vaccine as a child protected against the virus for the rest of their lives. 
  • Some people exposed to the virus may still get measles even if they got the MMR vaccine. In this case, they are more likely to have less severe symptoms and are also less likely to spread the disease easily. 

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