08/12/2025
Panhandle Health District (PHD) is reporting a confirmed measles infection in an unvaccinated child in Kootenai County. This is the first case in a resident of Idaho since 2023 and the first case in the northern Panhandle since 1991. PHD is working to identify how the individual contracted measles and contacting the known locations that the individual visited while infectious to inform anyone who may have been exposed to the virus.
Measles is a highly contagious virus and spreads easily through the air when an infected person breaths, coughs or sneezes. The virus can stay in the air two hours after an infected person has left. Symptoms typically appear seven to 14 days after exposure and include high fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, and a distinctive rash. While many recover without problems, measles can lead to serious complications, especially in very young children and people with weakened immune systems.
The measles vaccine is highly effective, and for most people, two childhood doses of vaccine is all they will ever need to protect themselves against measles for their lifetime. In the United States, MMR vaccine is given between 12 and 15 months of age followed by another dose at 4 to 6 years of age. It can be given as early as 6 months of age for those who are traveling to areas with known measles infections or in the event of a local outbreak of measles.
If you or a family member are experiencing measles symptoms, please call your primary care provider immediately. It is important to call your doctor before going in. If you have further questions regarding measles or the MMR vaccine, please contact your healthcare provider For more information about measles, visit www.cdc.gov/measles/about/index.html.
Read the full press release here: https://panhandlehealthdistrict.org/news-release/08-12-2025-first-confirmed-measles-case-in-panhandle-since-1991/
