An Alaska resident was hospitalized with measles after returning home from an international trip through Seattle on January 10. The infected individual, who has not been identified, is unvaccinated and experienced symptoms during the flight.
The patient began showing “classic measles signs and symptoms,” including a high fever, cough, and widespread rash, at South Peninsula Hospital in Homer on Monday. They were then transferred to Providence Alaska Medical Center in Anchorage, where they remain in isolation.
Measles is a highly transmissible virus that can spread through air particles when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or breathes. The disease typically starts with a fever, runny nose, cough, red eyes, and sore throat, followed by a rash. It can lead to complications, such as pneumonia and ear infections, and is sometimes fatal.
The Alaska Department of Health is investigating contacts of the infected individual and offering post-exposure preventive treatment to those who may have been exposed. This includes family members, passengers on the patient’s initial international flight, and individuals who arrived at the Anchorage airport between January 10-11.
As of Friday afternoon, there have been no additional confirmed cases, but multiple contacts are being monitored for symptoms. The state health department is working with the CDC to determine how many individuals are immune to measles due to prior vaccination or infection.
Measles outbreaks are on the rise worldwide, with a significant increase in cases in the US last year compared to the previous year. In Alaska, there have been only a few reported cases since 2019. Health officials recommend that anyone who believes they may have been exposed to measles contact their healthcare provider for testing and guidance.
In Alaska, vaccination rates are high, with over 79% of children ages 19-35 months having received one dose of the MMR vaccine, and 83% of children between 5-18 years old having received a second dose. However, even among vaccinated individuals, there is still some risk of infection if they are not fully immune due to prior vaccination or other factors.
Source: https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/2025/01/17/state-confirms-measles-case-in-alaskan-who-traveled-overseas