WATERBURY — The Vermont Department of Health has confirmed a case of measles in a school-aged child in Lamoille County. The child became sick after returning with their family from traveling internationally in recent days. The risk to the public is believed to be low, as the child has been isolated from most community settings while they have been contagious. The investigation is ongoing.
This is the first case of measles in Vermont in 2025, following two cases in 2024 and two cases in the decade prior, one in 2011 and one in 2018. This case is not related to the three ongoing domestic outbreaks of measles in the United States or to the current measles outbreak in Québec.
The positive test result for measles was confirmed the evening of Monday, March 10. One known site of exposure is at Copley Hospital, where the child was evaluated on Sunday, March 9. Copley Hospital has reached out to known visitors to the Emergency Department during that time.
The Health Department is asking anyone who was inside the Emergency Department at Copley Hospital in Morrisville between 3:15 p.m. and 6 p.m., on Sunday, March 9, to take the following actions: Confirm you have evidence of immunity to measles. You can do this by reaching out to your healthcare provider or requesting your vaccination records. If you don’t know or can’t confirm if you have immunity to measles, contact the Health Department at (802) 863-7240, option 2 as soon as possible for guidance.
Everyone who was at the Copley Hospital Emergency Department during that time should monitor for any symptoms through Sunday, March 30. Reach out to a health care provider if developing any symptoms. Do not go to the doctor’s office, the hospital, or a clinic without first calling to let them know about symptoms and possible exposure to measles. To protect patient confidentiality, the Health Department will not release individual personal health information. The department will continue to provide information that may impact broader public health.
The Health Department is also urging people in Vermont to make sure their family is vaccinated against measles, especially children. It’s particularly important if planning to travel outside of the United States. Measles are one of the most contagious diseases and can be dangerous, especially in children younger than 5 years old. About one-in-five unvaccinated people in the U.S. who get measles are hospitalized.
Measles are a highly contagious respiratory virus that can cause serious illness.
In the first three months of 2025, the CDC has reported over 200 cases of measles, largely connected to three outbreaks in the United States, which have led to two recent deaths in Texas and New Mexico. Two hundred eighty-five cases were reported in the U.S. for all of 2024, compared to 58 cases in 2023. Cases are also rising internationally. Health officials attribute this, in part, to an increase in the number of unvaccinated people, which impacts community immunity.
Symptoms of measles typically begin with a cough, runny nose, watery eyes, and a high fever that may spike to more than 104°. A rash of flat spots breaks out on the head and face, then spreads to other parts of the body.
There is no treatment for measles. However, it is almost entirely vaccine-preventable. Measles can be prevented with the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine. The Health Department is encouraging people to make sure they are up to date on their measles vaccinations. Talk to a doctor if unsure if the family have been vaccinated. It is especially important to be protected from measles before traveling outside the U.S.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends children get their first dose at 12 to 15 months of age, and a second dose at age 4 to 6 years. Infants ages 6 through 11 months old should get the MMR vaccination if traveling outside the U.S. Adults are protected from measles if they are fully vaccinated, were born before 1957, or have had a blood test that confirms they are immune. Talk to a healthcare provider if unsure if unprotected against measles. Because measles is contagious, 95% of a population needs to be immune to limit the spread of the virus effectively. According to 2023-2024 school immunization survey data, 93% of children in Vermont public and independent schools are fully vaccinated against measles before entering kindergarten. This data doesn’t include children who are homeschooled or not yet enrolled in school.
For more information about measles, visit HealthVermont.gov/Measles.
