Flathead County reports potential measles exposure

The Flathead City-County Health Department announced this week that an individual with measles visited the county and had potential exposure sites during their visit.

A suspected case of measles in the county tested negative.

As of Wednesday, the county is aware of three public sites the individual visited and is warning county residents and visitors that they may have been exposed to measles if they were present in the following locations:

• Glacier Highland – Gift Store & Restaurant 12555 Hwy 2E, West Glacier, (from Sept. 8 through Sept. 11)
• Logan Health Primary Care 1675 Talbot Road, Columbia Falls, (Sept. 8 from noon to 5 p.m.)
• Amtrak Train No.8,  traveling eastbound on Sept. 11 from West Glacier

Potentially exposed individuals should complete the Measles Exposure Self-Assessment  and monitor for symptoms for 21 days.

Measles is a very contagious disease that spreads mainly through the air. When an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks, tiny droplets containing the virus are released and can remain in the air for as long as two hours. This means someone can get measles even without direct contact with the infected person. The virus can also spread by touching contaminated surfaces and then touching the mouth, eyes or nose.

Measles usually starts with a fever, cough, runny nose, and red eyes, along with small white spots inside the cheeks. About 7 to 14 days after exposure, a red rash appears, beginning on the face and then spreading to the rest of the body.

If you have symptoms of measles, call your healthcare provider right away. Your provider will tell you how to get care safely without exposing others. If you are concerned about exposure, health officials recommend staying at home and not having guests or visitors until you are no longer contagious, or measles is ruled out. People immune through vaccination, lab-confirmed immunity or prior infection, or those born before 1957 are generally not considered at risk for infection. Unvaccinated individuals have about a 90% chance of infection if exposed.