BONNER COUNTY, Idaho – A third confirmed case of measles in an Idaho resident was announced on Wednesday by officials from the Department of Health and Welfare (DHW) and Panhandle Health District (PHD).
No link has been established between this case and the Kootenai County case announced last week, but officials added that an additional case was confirmed in Eastern Idaho earlier this month.
“Without any link between these two confirmed cases in north Idaho or travel outside their communities, it’s reasonable to suspect that there is more measles circulating,” Dr. Christine Hahn, state epidemiologist and Division of Public Health medical director at DHW, stated.
Measles is a highly contagious virus, spread through the air with the ability to linger for up to two hours after an infected person leaves. It’s considered particularly dangerous for young children and those with weakened immune systems.
“Among measles cases, typically 13% will need hospitalization, and among young children that percent jumps to 21%,” Dr. Hahn explained.
Health officials advised verifying vaccination records to ensure protection against measles. For more information on measles and vaccinations, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
