No measles cases identified in Flathead County following recent exposure alert
TAYLOR INMAN | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 hour, 39 minutes AGO
Warnings about the potential spread of measles seen at the Flathead City-County Health Department in this 2025 file photo. (Kate Heston/Daily Inter Lake)
REPORTER AND PODCAST HOST Taylor Inman covers Bigfork and the north shore of Flathead Lake for the Bigfork Eagle and the Daily Inter Lake. Her reporting focuses on local government, community issues and the people who shape life in Northwest Montana. Inman began her journalism career at Murray State University’s public radio newsroom and later reported for WKMS, where her work aired on National Public Radio. In addition to reporting, she hosts and contributes to Daily Inter Lake podcasts including News Now. Her work connects listeners and readers with the stories shaping communities across the Flathead Valley. IMPACT: Taylor’s work expands local journalism through both traditional reporting and digital storytelling. | October 3, 2026 12:00 AM
The Flathead City-County Health Department hasn’t identified any measles cases in the county following an exposure alert that originated in the West Glacier area at the beginning of September.
Taylor Hunt with the Flathead City-County Health Department said testing results for a suspected case of measles came back negative, so no new exposure sites have been added. No Flathead County residents have tested positive for the highly contagious disease, she said.
Officials sent out an exposure alert on Sept. 20 after an infected individual was in Flathead County on Sept. 8-11, according to the county Health Department.
The person visited three public sites, including the Glacier Highland Gift Store and Restaurant in West Glacier, Logan Health Primary Care in Columbia Falls and Amtrak train No. 8 traveling east from West Glacier on Sept. 11.
Measles is considered very contagious, with tiny droplets containing the virus remaining in the air for up to two hours after an infected person sneezes or coughs, according to county health officials.
Symptoms start with a fever, cough, runny nose and red eyes, along with small white spots inside the cheeks. Anyone experiencing symptoms should contact their healthcare provider immediately for instructions on how to receive care without exposing others.
People immune through vaccination, lab-confirmed immunity or prior infection, or those born before 1957, are generally not considered at risk for infection. Unvaccinated people have about a 90% chance of infection if exposed, according to the county Health Department.
There have been 3,471 confirmed cases of measles in the U.S. this year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, including five cases in Montana.
People who need the MMR vaccine should contact their healthcare provider or schedule with the health department online or by calling 406-751-8110.
Reporter Taylor Inman can be reached at 406-758-4440 or [email protected]. If you value local journalism, pledge your support at dailyinterlake.com/support.
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No measles cases identified in Flathead County following recent exposure alert
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