The following is a press release from Cascade County Health Department:
GREAT FALLS, Mont. — As of June 3, 2025, seventeen Montana measles cases have been confirmed in Gallatin, Flathead, Yellowstone, and Hill Counties. Although no cases have been confirmed in Cascade County residents at this time, a confirmed exposure event occurred when an infected resident of another county visited a Great Falls business location. Anyone present in the building (or in any business located within the building) during certain hours is considered likely to have been exposed to measles.
Date & Time:
Tuesday, May 27, 2025 from 1:30pm to 5:30pm
Building:
Prospect Heights Medical Center
Address:
401 15th Ave S, Great Falls, MT 59405
Businesses in Building:
Central Montana Orthopedic Specialists
Sun River Health
Atlas Neurology
Office of Dr. Susan Avery
Quest Diagnostics
Northwest Physicians
What to do if exposed:
CCHD is conducting a follow-up investigation to identify the individuals likely exposed. Depending on the contact information available, CCHD will notify those individuals and provide further instructions by phone call, text message, and/or letter.
If you think you may have been exposed but do not receive notice from CCHD within the following several days, you may contact CCHD at 406-791-9242 for directions. Exposed individuals with presumed immunity (see below) do not need to quarantine but should monitor for symptoms for 21 days after the exposure; individuals who do not have presumed immunity are advised to stay home for 21 days and monitor for symptoms. Anyone exposed to measles should also talk to their healthcare provider to understand their individual risk of measles and should consider postponing routine medical care at least 21 days from their last exposure.
The first symptoms of measles usually appear about 7-14 days after exposure: fever, cough, runny nose, red watery eyes, and/or white spots in the mouth. A red rash—usually beginning near the hairline and moving downward—typically begins about 2-3 days after the first symptoms. If you develop symptoms, you should continue to stay home except for testing or urgent/emergency treatment. Please call Benefis Health System at 406-731-8300 to arrange for testing or urgent care. It is extremely important that you do not enter a clinic building without calling ahead to the clinic so that precautions can be taken to avoid exposing others.
Immunity:
You are presumed to have immunity to measles if you have:
Written documentation of adequate vaccines for measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR)
Laboratory evidence of immunity
Laboratory confirmation of disease
Birth before 1957
If you are unsure of your vaccination status, please contact CCHD at 406-791-9242 to check your Montana electronic vaccine records and/or for direction on other ways to obtain your records.
MMR vaccination schedules may be found at https://dphhs.mt.gov/publichealth/cdepi/diseases/Measles. CCHD is also recommending that children age 6-11 months receive an early MMR vaccine prior to traveling to Hill County MT, including Havre.
Contact CCHD at 406-791-9242 to schedule a measles vaccination appointment, or with any other questions or concerns about measles. Vaccination may also be available from your doctor or other healthcare provider.
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