Measles Case Confirmed in Anchorage, October 2025

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October 16, 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Measles Case Confirmed in Anchorage

Anchorage, AK – The Anchorage Health Department (AHD) and the Alaska Department of Health (DOH) are investigating a confirmed measles case in the Municipality of Anchorage. Health officials believe there is limited public exposure due to this individual isolating upon arrival in Anchorage.

This individual traveled to the Municipality of Anchorage on Monday, October 13, 2025, from an area of the United States that is experiencing a substantial measles outbreak. They did not have a history of being immunized against measles.

About Measles

• People are at risk of developing measles if they have never had the disease or have never received the measles/mumps/rubella (MMR) vaccine.
• Measles spreads very easily by air and by direct contact; simply being in the same room with someone who has measles is sufficient to become infected.
• Measles symptoms typically appear seven to 21 days after exposure. These symptoms include rash, high fever (often reaching 104–105°F), cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes. The rash usually begins on the face and spreads downward to the chest and back, then to the thighs and feet. Approximately one in every 20 individuals with measles develops pneumonia, and in rare cases, serious—even life-threatening—complications may occur. There is no treatment for measles; the MMR vaccine is the best way to prevent it.
• Individuals who develop symptoms of measles should contact a health care provider by phone BEFORE going to a medical office or emergency department. Special arrangements can be made for your evaluation while also protecting other patients and medical staff from possible infection.

 
Locations of potential exposure to the public
The infected individual was at the following public locations before being diagnosed with measles. These times include the period when the individual was at the location and 2 hours after. Measles virus can remain in the air for up to 2 hours after someone infectious with measles leaves the area. Anyone who was at the following locations during the times listed could have been exposed to measles.
 
People may have been exposed to measles if they were present in the following locations:

Persons who were present at any of the locations noted in the table above should do the following:

• Verify you/your child's vaccination history. 
• Persons who are fully up-to-date on MMR vaccination are very unlikely to develop measles. Alaska residents can check their immunization records via the Docket app.
• If you/your child are not fully immune to measles,
• Stay away from hospitals, nursing homes, known immunocompromised individuals, and large gatherings during the indicated dates in the third column of the table above.
• Monitor for fever illness and rash during the date ranges indicated above.
• Immediately contact a health care provider and stay away from other people if you/your child becomes sick with a fever during this time; keep your child at home until the doctor and school or child care staff have cleared him/her to return to usual out-of-home activities.
• If you have any questions, call the Anchorage Health Department at 907-903-9783 or the Alaska Section of Epidemiology at 907-269-8000.

 
Vaccination

• Measles vaccine is given in combination with rubella and mumps vaccine (MMR).
• The MMR vaccine is safe and effective; two doses of the vaccine are recommended for children starting at age 12 months. Two doses of the MMR vaccine are 97% effective at preventing measles and that protection is long lasting.
• Women should not get the MMR vaccine during pregnancy. If a pregnant woman or a severely immunocompromised person is exposed to measles, they should contact their health care provider immediately.
• If your child has not received MMR vaccine or has only received one dose, we strongly recommend that you contact your healthcare provider for immunization as soon as possible.
• If you do not have a health care provider, your child may receive immunizations at pharmacies and AHD. People interested in getting vaccinated at AHD can call 907-343-4799 to schedule an appointment.

 
AHD will continue to monitor the situation, update the public regularly via its social media accounts and website, and work with its partners at DOH. For more information about measles, please visit the CDC Measles Page and the Alaska Section of Epidemiology website.

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Contact: Michelle Fehribach, Anchorage Health Department, 907-343-4670, michelle.r.fehribach@anchorageak.gov

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