A case of measles in an unvaccinated child has been confirmed in Kootenai County, Idaho, marking the first time the disease has occurred in a resident since 2023. This comes as wastewater testing in Coeur d’Alene previously revealed positive results for the disease.
The Panhandle Health District is investigating how the child contracted measles and notifying locations visited by the child while infectious. In Eastern Idaho, an unvaccinated international traveler was identified with measles earlier this month, but due to self-isolation, there were no reported cases outside of household contacts.
With thousands of Idaho students returning to school in coming weeks, state epidemiologist Christine Hahn is urging parents to be aware of the risks. She notes that wastewater testing can indicate measles presence in a community, even if it’s not an active outbreak. Hahn emphasizes that measles vaccination rates have dropped nationwide, and Idaho stands out with low vaccination rates among kindergarteners.
If a case is identified, schools will notify staff and families, and susceptible students may be excluded from school. The process for exclusion decisions is the same for single cases or outbreaks, and vulnerable students are identified at the start of the year to facilitate quicker communication in case of an outbreak.
Measles is highly contagious, spreading through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes. Symptoms appear seven to 14 days after exposure, including a high fever, cough, runny nose, and distinctive rash. The vaccine has been highly studied and proven safe.
Nationwide, there have been 1,356 confirmed measles cases this year, with 92% of those who contracted the disease unvaccinated or had unknown vaccination status. Hahn encourages parents to reconsider vaccinating their children against measles, noting that the vaccine is highly effective in preventing the disease.
Source: https://www.idahoednews.org/news/measles-confirmed-in-kootenai-county-what-families-should-know-as-kids-head-back-to-school