Mount Vernon and Vienna Health Officer Newsletter November, 2026
Beth Trehu, MD
Measles Outbreaks Continue to Increase; Make Sure you and your Family are Vaccinated, Especially if you are Traveling Out of State for the Holidays!
From the Maine CDC Health Alert Action Network:
Continued elevated measles outbreak activity across North America poses an ongoing risk of measles infection in the United States. Measles cases have been reported in almost all states in recent months and are not limited to states reporting larger outbreaks. The highest risk of infection is in unvaccinated people who come into contact with those who are infected. This increased risk is particularly concerning for those too young to be vaccinated and those unable to be vaccinated for medical reasons.
This is especially important as we head into the holiday season, when you may be traveling to spend time with family or friends in other states. There are currently 6 reported cases of measles in Maine, 6 in Penobscot County and 1 in Somerset County, but some states have many more, for example, Florida has 148 and Pennsylvania has 1237, up from 11 and 6, respectively, in 2024.
The Maine Department of Health and Human Services’ Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC) reiterates the importance of measles vaccination. When planning to travel internationally, the U.S. CDC recommends early vaccination for children ages 6-11 months old. Children over 12 months of age and adults with no evidence of immunity who plan to travel internationally should receive the first dose of MMR immediately, with a second dose 28 days after the first dose.
The Maine CDC also recommends an early dose for children ages 6-11 months old when traveling to a domestic area where a measles outbreak is actively occurring, or when they anticipate having close contact with non-immune visitors from areas of the U.S. with measles cases.
If you would like to know the status of measles outbreaks at your holiday destinations, ongoing measles outbreaks at the destination of travel can be determined through the “Real-time measles updates from states” section of the US CDC Measles Cases and Outbreaks website. For a snapshot of recent measles cases at the county level, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health has created a US Measles Tracker, which has a recent case viewer with county-level information.
FYI; when children are given vaccine between 6-11 months of age, this is considered “dose zero,” which does not count towards the routine two-dose series. These children should also get dose one at 12-15 months and dose two at 4-6 years, for a total of three doses.
If you suspect a case of measles, notify your doctor immediately. Cases of measles must be reported to the Maine CDC.
Stay safe and healthy this holiday season!