02/19/2026
🚨 Measles Update in Maine
The Maine Department of Health and Human Services' Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC) is announcing that four additional cases of measles have been confirmed in Maine. That brings the current total number of lab-confirmed cases in Maine to five, though there are no new exposure locations associated with these diagnoses and no new exposure risks for the public.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S. CDC), as of February 13, there were 910 confirmed measles cases reported nationwide in 2026. Today, the Maine CDC is launching a public measles dashboard for tracking case and outbreak numbers along with counties where cases are identified. This will serve as a resource for tracking measles in Maine going forward. The cases announced today are all from Penobscot County and had exposure to the first reported case. All four new cases are unvaccinated.
Measles is a highly contagious viral disease; if one person has it, 90% of the people close to that person who are not immune will become infected. Individuals who develop symptoms should contact their health provider for instructions before going to the provider's office or hospital to help prevent further spread of infection.
Symptoms of measles include:
Fever
Cough
Runny nose
Red, watery eyes
Tiny white spots inside the mouth on the inner lining of the cheek (Koplik spots)
Rash that spreads from the head down.
Measles can cause severe sickness including pneumonia, encephalitis (brain swelling), and death. An infected person spreads measles through coughs or sneezes. Once infected, a person is contagious from four days before their rash starts through four days afterwards. The virus remains alive for up to two hours on surfaces and in the air. The period from exposure to onset 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. Two doses of MMR vaccine are about 97% effective at preventing measles; one dose is about 93% effective. The U.S. CDC considers people who received two doses of MMR vaccine as a child protected for life. Anyone who is not immunized or does not know their measles immunization status should get vaccinated.
If you:
✔️ Are unsure of your vaccination status
✔️ Have questions about measles symptoms
✔️ Would like to schedule an MMR vaccine
✔️ Are planning to travel
📞 Contact our nursing team today — we’re here to answer your questions and help you stay protected.
Early protection keeps our families and community safe. ❤️
