Mass. confirms first measles case since 2020

Massachusetts public health officials announced Thursday that a resident was diagnosed with the first confirmed case of measles in state since 2020.

The Worcester County adult had recently traveled abroad before getting diagnosed in early July with the easy-to-transmit airborne disease, according to a statement from the state Department of Public Health.

Anyone in the state believed to have been potentially exposed in this month's confirmed measles case was notified, department officials said in the statement. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officials warn that measles can linger in the air for up to two hours after a person who has been infected leaves the space.

Dr. Robbie Goldstein, commissioner of the state's health department, explained in the statement that measles is "highly contagious" and cases have increased across the world, including in the U.S.

“Cases of measles have been reported in 30 states since the beginning of last year, mostly in people and communities who are unvaccinated. Vaccination is the best way to protect against measles," he wrote, adding measles were found in other New England states this year.

A map by the CDC shows Vermont and New Hampshire both reported cases. Late last month, Massachusetts health officials warned residents that a traveler using public transportation on June 22 in Boston on the way to Amsterdam was diagnosed with measles and could have exposed people in the city.

As of July 11, 167 measles patients were identified in roughly half of all U.S. states this year, according to CDC data. About 84% of the people who were infected — mostly children under age 5 — were also unvaccinated against the disease. More than half of all known measles patients were hospitalized.

State public health officials noted that Europe and other nations are enduring "large measles outbreaks," and that U.S. cases have often been traced to international travels.