DPHHS Says Measles Cases Have Been Confirmed in Montana
Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services and the Gallatin City-County Health Department have confirmed that the first five cases of measles since 1990 have been reported in Montana.
I spoke with Dr. Melanie Enderwick at Missoula’s Community Medical Center on Friday about the outbreak of this very contagious and potentially deadly disease in Montana.
“There's been an outbreak of measles in the state of Texas, and it started primarily in an unvaccinated population, and because it is so transmissible, more so even than the COVID virus, it was able to spread through many different states, and some people from Bozeman were traveling and brought the virus back with them, and now they are in quarantine in their home,” began Dr. Enderwick.
Dr. Enderwick said that because the measles vaccine has been so widely used throughout Montana, the vast majority of Montanans will not get the measles.
“These five cases, and because these are the first cases since 1990, the vaccine is highly effective,” she said. “It's an old vaccine that started many years ago, and most people have adapted to taking it, and in fact, 97 percent of people who have been vaccinated will not be getting sick with this virus.”
Community Medical Center Public Information Officer Megan Condra explained how effective the measles vaccine is for those who have received it.
“Most kids get their first dose of the MMR (Measles, Mumps, and Rubella) vaccine at the age of one, and then the second dose is at four to six years old,” she said. “With the first vaccine, you're 93 percent protected, so you're essentially protecting yourself. With that second dose, you're 97 percent protected, and that means you're also protecting those around you. You can get a vaccine at any time. You don't have to get it when you're a child, and the vaccine is treatment.”
Dr. Enderwick emphasized how virulent the measles virus can be for those who have not been vaccinated.
“If someone (who has the measles) even walks through a room and coughs or sneezes, it (the measles virus) will stay in the air for two hours, and you can get the measles up to two hours after that person has walked through that room,” she said. “Anybody who is immunosuppressed or susceptible to getting sick or cannot get this vaccine because they're on chemotherapy, for example, putting on an N95 (mask) now anytime they leave the house is where you're going to have to live.”
If you need to be vaccinated or are unsure of your measles vaccination status, check with your doctor.
With any questions about getting vaccinated, please contact Missoula Public Health at 406-258-4770 or visit the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services website.