A case of measles has been reported in eastern Idaho after an unvaccinated international traveler visited the area, according to Eastern Idaho Public Health (EIPH) officials. The individual, described as an adolescent, had not received any vaccinations against measles before arriving in the country.
Symptoms of measles typically include a high fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes, followed by a characteristic rash that appears 3-5 days after these symptoms. Measles is highly contagious and can be spread for four days before and four days after the rash appears.
Residents are advised to stay home if they suspect they or someone in their family has measles and to check their vaccination records with their primary care provider. The EIPH encourages everyone to get vaccinated against measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR), which is 97% effective at preventing the disease after two doses.
If you believe you may have been exposed to someone with measles, contact your healthcare provider and monitor yourself for symptoms for 21 days after exposure. Public health officials will observe those known to have been in close contact with the infected individual.
Measles can cause serious complications, including pneumonia and encephalitis, especially in children under 5. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that one in five unvaccinated people who contract measles is hospitalized. Those who are immune due to prior vaccination or birth before 1957 do not need to take precautions.
Source: https://www.eastidahonews.com/2025/08/case-of-measles-reported-in-eastern-idaho-in-unvaccinated-international-traveler