Measles case prompts exposure alert in Flathead County

Flathead County health officials are tracing locations across the valley that a person infected with measles may have visited last week.

The infected individual was in Flathead County from Sept. 8-11, according to the Flathead City-County Health Department.

Three public sites the person visited in the county have been identified so far. Those locations include 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.

County officials warned that additional exposure sites may be identified. Any additional confirmed cases and exposure locations will be posted on the health department's website.

People who may have been exposed should complete the Measles Exposure Self-Assessment on the health department's website, officials said.

"Measles is a very contagious disease that spreads mainly through the air," the health department's press release warned. "When an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks, tiny droplets containing the virus are released and can remain in the air for up to two hours. This means someone can get measles even without direct contact with the infected person. The virus can also spread by touching contaminated surfaces and then touching the mouth, eyes or nose."

Symptoms start with a fever, cough, runny nose and red eyes, along with small white spots inside the cheeks. People experiencing symptoms should contact their healthcare provider immediately for instructions on how to receive care without exposing others.

"Please stay at home and do not have any guests or visitors until you are no longer contagious, or measles is ruled out," the press release said.

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.

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.

About 95% of the cases nationwide were associated with an unvaccinated person or someone with an unknown vaccination status, CDC data show. About 9% of those cases led to the person being hospitalized.

Public health officials advise the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine as the best protection.

There have been no changes made to existing MMR vaccine recommendations in the U.S., the health department said. Two doses have been recommended for children since 1989.

People who need the MMR vaccine should contact their healthcare provider or schedule with the health department online or by calling 406-751-8110.