BANGOR, Maine -- State public health officials are warning about exposure to measles in Penobscot County after a person in Bangor tested positive for the virus, the first such case reported in Maine since 2019, according to the Maine Center for Disease Control & Prevention.
The person is an adult who contracted measles after visiting a state with measles cases, and was infectious from Jan. 28 to Feb. 5. The state CDC notified facilities where potential exposure occurred and is working with them to inform those who were potentially exposed.
Those who may have been exposed include people who were at the Emergency Department of St. Joseph Hospital in Bangor on Tuesday, Feb. 3, from 8:30 to 11 a.m. Exposure also may have occurred to those visiting Hill View Mini Barns in Etna on either Jan. 28 or 29, the CDC said in an advisory.
Bangor Public Health & Community Services is hoping this is an isolated case but encourages anyone wishing to receive the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine to visit the Bangor Public Health Clinic at 103 Texas Ave. An appointment can be made by calling 207-992-4547 Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Walks-ins are welcome and are accepted on Mondays and Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to noon, and Thursdays from 1 to 3:30 p.m.
The MMR vaccine also is available from several other providers in Bangor, including the Bangor Drug Company, Concentra, Convenient MD, CVS Pharmacy, Hannaford Pharmacy, Shaw’s Pharmacy, Walgreens Pharmacy and Walmart Pharmacy.
Please remember, the best protection against measles is vaccination. Those who are not immunized or do not know their measles immunization status should get vaccinated with at least one dose of MMR vaccine to protect from subsequent exposure.
Measles is a highly contagious disease that is particularly dangerous to children 5 and under, according to the CDC. Symptoms include fever, malaise, cough, conjunctivitis, followed by a rash. The incubation period – the time it takes symptoms to appear after exposure – is typically 10 to 14 days, but can be as long as 21 days.
Rash most commonly appears about 14 days after exposure and spreads from the head to the trunk to the lower extremities, according to the CDC. It can cause severe complications including pneumonia, encephalitis and death.
The virus spreads to others through the airborne transmission of droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The virus can live for up to two hours in an airspace or on surfaces after the infected person coughs or sneezes. Measles is so contagious that if one person has it, 90% of the people close to that person who are not immune will become infected.
Cases of measles have been increasing nationally with over 700 cases in 2026. Measles has been detected in some wastewater surveillance sites in the Northeast.
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The City of Bangor, Maine, is a service center community of 31,753 residents and is the county seat of Penobscot County. Bangor is the major commercial and cultural center for much of northern and eastern Maine. The City is an equal opportunity employer and service provider. For information on City projects and news, see www.bangormaine.gov