02/09/2026
Measles has come to Maine! As of February 5, 2026, the Maine Center for Disease Control & Prevention has confirmed one case of measles in an adult resident of Penobscot County with recent out-of-state travel. This is the first reported case in Maine since 2019.
Measles symptoms typically present 7-14 days after exposure. Symptoms can include high fevers (up to 104), runny nose, bad cough, red eyes, and white spots within the cheeks. Measles rash starts 3-5 days into symptoms, as a flat, red rash starting at the hairline and then spreading down the body. There can also be raised red bumps on top of the flat rash that can spread over the body.
Complications include:
Hospitalization. About 1 in 5 unvaccinated people in the U.S. who get measles is hospitalized.
Pneumonia. As many as 1 out of every 20 children with measles gets pneumonia, the most common cause of death from measles in young children.
Encephalitis. About 1 child out of every 1,000 who get measles will develop encephalitis (swelling of the brain). This can lead to convulsions and leave the child deaf or with intellectual disability.
Death. Nearly 1 to 3 of every 1,000 children who become infected with measles will die from respiratory and neurologic complications.
Complications during pregnancy. If you are pregnant and have not had the MMR vaccine, measles may cause birth prematurely, or have a low-birth-weight baby.
This is a great opportunity to prevent illness in your own child, and in others by ensuring measles vaccination status if up to date!
