Panhandle Health District – August 12, 2025
Panhandle Health District (PHD) is reporting a confirmed measles infection in an unvaccinated child in Kootenai County. This is the first case in a resident of Idaho since 2023 and the first case in the northern Panhandle since 1991. PHD is working to identify how the individual contracted measles and contacting the known locations that the individual visited while infectious to inform anyone who may have been exposed to the virus.
Measles is a highly contagious virus and spreads easily through the air when an infected person breaths, coughs or sneezes. The virus can stay in the air two hours after an infected person has left. Symptoms typically appear seven to 14 days after exposure and include high fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, and a distinctive rash. While many recover without problems, measles can lead to serious complications, especially in very young children and people with weakened immune systems.
Panhandle Health District encourages everyone to verify their family’s vaccination records with their primary care provider or through the Docket App. A person is considered immune if they were born before January 1, 1957, have a documented history of laboratory-confirmed measles or have documentation that they received both doses of the MMR vaccine. The measles vaccine is highly effective, and for most people, two childhood doses of vaccine is all they will ever need to protect themselves against measles for their lifetime. In the United States, MMR vaccine is given between 12 and 15 months of age followed by another dose at 4 to 6 years of age. It can be given as early as 6 months of age for those who are traveling to areas with known measles infections or in the event of a local outbreak of measles.
In 2024, cases of measles began to increase in the U.S.. So far in 2025, there have already been more cases than in all of 2024, with cases reported in 41 jurisdictions including Washington, Montana, Oregon and Wyoming. Among those cases, 13% have been hospitalized, most of them children.
If you or a family member are experiencing measles symptoms, please call your primary care provider immediately. It is important to call your doctor before going in. If you have further questions regarding measles or the MMR vaccine, please contact your healthcare provider.
For more information about measles, visit www.cdc.gov/measles/about/index.html.
Panhandle Health District provides over 40 different public health programs to families, individuals and organizations in northern Idaho. From food and drinking water safety to health education and disease control, public health services are critical to ensure our community is a safe and healthy place to live, work and play. The PHD team is made up of nurses, nutritionists, environmental health specialists, health educators and many other dedicated professionals with a common goal to deliver vital public health services. Panhandle Health District is one of seven health districts in the state of Idaho.
