Measles Case Confirmed In Lewis And Clark County
Author: Amber Johnson, Lewis and Clark Public Health
Measles Case Confirmed in Lewis and Clark County
Amber Johnson
Lewis and Clark Public Health
Single Measles Case Confirmed in Lewis and Clark County Resident. No Community Transmission Reported.
Helena – Lewis and Clark Public Health (LCPH) has confirmed a single case of measles in the county, the first in decades. Local health officials emphasize there is no evidence of community transmission or any public exposure sites in Lewis and Clark County. The case has not been connected to any daycares or summer youth programs in Lewis and Clark County.
“The great news for us, in the Helena area, is that most of our population is fully immunized against measles. So all that said, while we must stay informed and prepared, there is no reason for panic,” reports Angelique Turner, LCPH Public Health Nurse.
The affected family followed the requested protocol and called ahead before arriving for testing, allowing the health care facility to prepare.
The infected individual was safely tested without exposing any healthcare workers or patients.
The individual is a minor who had previously received one dose of the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine. (At this time, vaccine status is reported by parents but not confirmed by records.)
The individual’s last infectious day was Tuesday, August 12th. One other household contact is not immunized, but they are safely quarantined at home with no symptoms reported to-date.
Local health officials are assisting affected jurisdictions with exposure information to aid in their contact tracing efforts.
To stay informed and prepared, LCPH encourages residents to:
• Obtain your MMR vaccination records.
• Get vaccinated if you are not fully protected.
• Contact your healthcare provider if you have questions or have concerns that you have been exposed to measles or have symptoms of measles.
• Stay updated on reported public exposures and new cases in Lewis and Clark County by visiting https://www.lccountymt.gov/Government/Public-Health and click on the two links at the top of the page:
• “Measles 2025 Outbreak Information”: for details and local updates
• “LCPH Data Portal”: for reported public exposures in Lewis and Clark County and new cases across Montana counties
MMR Vaccine Information
You are considered immune to measles if you:
• Have written documentation of MMR vaccination,
• Have lab evidence of immunity or prior infection, or
• Were born before 1957.
If you are unsure of your vaccination status, start by contacting your doctor, healthcare provider, or pharmacy. If records are unavailable, you can request them on the LCPH website:
https://www.lccountymt.gov/Government/Public-Health/Communicable-Disease-Control/2025-Measles-Outbreak-Information
“The nurses at Lewis and Clark Public Health have a combined 109 years of experience and have administered thousands of vaccines, including the MMR. We want to assure you that two doses of the MMR vaccine are both safe and highly effective in preventing measles,” Turner says.
Parents with questions or concerns about childhood vaccines are encouraged to speak with a nurse or doctor.
To schedule a measles vaccination appointment, call LCPH at (406) 457-8900. Vaccinations may also be available from your doctor, healthcare provider, or pharmacy.
For more information on measles activity in Montana, visit the Montana Department of Health and Human Services measles website: https://dphhs.mt.gov/publichealth/cdepi/diseases/Measles.
Measles Disease Information
Measles is a highly infectious airborne disease. Nearly everyone who has not had the MMR vaccine will get sick if they are exposed, and about 20% will require hospitalization. Infants are especially at high risk, because they are not eligible for vaccination until 12 months of age.
Common symptoms appear 7–14 days after exposure and may include:
• Fever
• Cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes
• White spots in the mouth
• A red, flat rash that typically starts near the hairline and spreads downward 3–5 days after initial symptoms
Rare but serious complications may include:
• Pneumonia, brain swelling, or death
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