2025 Measles Information
The United States is currently experiencing wide-spread outbreaks of the measles virus. Measles is a highly contagious, vaccine-preventable disease. About 90% of people who are not vaccinated against measles will get measles if they are exposed to someone with the virus.
Current Cases
This information will be updated weekly. Vaccination status will be classified as vaccinated or not vaccinated, or as unknown if the vaccination status is not known. This information will be updated if vaccination status is determined.
Press release 4-18-2025- Measles in Montana
Press release 5-6-25- Measles cases in Williams County, ND (Williston)
To review information on the North Dakota cases and public exposures, click this link.
Press release 4-18-2025- Measles in Montana
Press release 5-6-25- Measles cases in Williams County, ND (Williston)
To review information on the North Dakota cases and public exposures, click this link.
Location |
Cases |
Vaccination Status |
Additional Information |
Montana |
7 |
Vaccinated (0) Not Vaccinated (2) Unknown (5) |
All 7 cases were related, no community spread has been reported. |
Richland County |
None as of 5-7-25 |
Vaccinated () Not Vaccinated () Unknown () |
N/A |
Williams County, ND (Williston) |
10 as of 5-14-25 |
Vaccinated (0) Not Vaccinated (10) Unknown (0) |
Community spread is reported. |
Measles testing
The Richland County Health Department DOES NOT offer measles testing.
If you believe that you have been exposed to measles or have symptoms of measles, CALL your healthcare provider.
DO NOT ENTER THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT OR A MEDICAL FACILITY IF YOU HAVE SYMPTOMS OF THE MEASLES to prevent further exposure. STAY HOME, ISOLATE, and CALL your healthcare provider. If you do not have a healthcare provider, you may reach the Health Department at 406-433-2207.
If you believe that you have been exposed to measles or have symptoms of measles, CALL your healthcare provider.
DO NOT ENTER THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT OR A MEDICAL FACILITY IF YOU HAVE SYMPTOMS OF THE MEASLES to prevent further exposure. STAY HOME, ISOLATE, and CALL your healthcare provider. If you do not have a healthcare provider, you may reach the Health Department at 406-433-2207.
How it spreads
Measles is spread when an infected person talks, breathes, coughs or sneezes. The virus is released into the air and may remain in the air for up to two hours. Anyone who breathes the air or touches surfaces contaminated with the measles virus can become infected. Measles can be transmitted 4 days before, though 4 days after symptoms appear in the infected person. As such, a person infected with measles may unknowingly spread the virus.
Source for graphic below: Society of Behavioral Medicine
Source for graphic below: Society of Behavioral Medicine
Signs & Symptoms
Measles causes a wide-spread, characteristic rash that begins at the head and spreads downward over the body. Other symptoms include fever, runny nose, cough, sore throat, body aches and lethargy.
If you are experiencing these symptoms, you should stay home and contact your healthcare provider. If you do not have a provider, call an urgent care center or emergency department and explain that you may have been exposed to measles. Calling ahead helps prevent additional exposures.
If you are experiencing these symptoms, you should stay home and contact your healthcare provider. If you do not have a provider, call an urgent care center or emergency department and explain that you may have been exposed to measles. Calling ahead helps prevent additional exposures.
How do I know if I'm protected against measles?
The best way to determine if you are protected against measles is to check your vaccination record.
The vaccine for the measles virus is called the MMR or MMRV, and is typically given to children at ages 1 and 4. The vaccine series is 97% effective and provides lifelong protection.
A person is considered protected against measles if they have received two doses of the MMR/MMRV, have laboratory evidence of immunity, or were born before 1957 (it is assumed that you were exposed to the measles virus if you were born before 1957).
If you received only one dose of the MMR/MMRV, we recommend that you receive another dose. If you do not know your vaccination status, we recommend that you receive the full series (2 doses).
How do I check my vaccination record?
If you have received vaccines in Montana or North Dakota, your record should be in the state-wide immunization system. The Health Department can access these systems and check your record when you provide your name (and maiden name, if applicable) and birth date. Please call us at 406-433-2207.
If you received vaccines in another state, you will need to contact that state health department or provider where you received vaccines to obtain your record.
The vaccine for the measles virus is called the MMR or MMRV, and is typically given to children at ages 1 and 4. The vaccine series is 97% effective and provides lifelong protection.
A person is considered protected against measles if they have received two doses of the MMR/MMRV, have laboratory evidence of immunity, or were born before 1957 (it is assumed that you were exposed to the measles virus if you were born before 1957).
If you received only one dose of the MMR/MMRV, we recommend that you receive another dose. If you do not know your vaccination status, we recommend that you receive the full series (2 doses).
How do I check my vaccination record?
If you have received vaccines in Montana or North Dakota, your record should be in the state-wide immunization system. The Health Department can access these systems and check your record when you provide your name (and maiden name, if applicable) and birth date. Please call us at 406-433-2207.
If you received vaccines in another state, you will need to contact that state health department or provider where you received vaccines to obtain your record.
How will I know if I was exposed to measles?
Unlike COVID-19 contact tracing, public health may not be able to pinpoint who was exposed to a person with the measles virus. Because the virus lingers in the air, and a person can be unknowingly contagious, the Health Department will identify locations and times that may have caused exposure. If you were at those locations during the indicated times, you may have been exposed.
What should I do if I was exposed (as in, I was in the places at the times where exposure occurred)?
First, you should STAY HOME. Second, you should check your vaccination record for two doses of the MMR/MMRV vaccine.
If you are considered protected from the measles virus (received 2 doses of the vaccine or born before 1957), you may carry on with your normal activities, but watch for the symptoms described above for 21 days past exposure.
If you have received one dose of the vaccine, it is unlikely that you will become sick with the measles, but you should consider getting a second dose of the vaccine, and watch for the symptoms described above for 21 days past exposure.
If you are not protected from measles and have received zero doses of the vaccine or are unable to determine your vaccination status, you should STAY HOME and watch for the symptoms described above for 21 days past exposure. INSERT MEASLES Q SHEET HERE.
Is natural immunity better than receiving the vaccine?
While infection-induced immunity may last slightly longer, the vaccine offers strong, long-last protection. Measles can cause serious complications during infection, including pneumonia, encephalitis (swelling of the brain), ear infections with the potential to cause deafness, and death due to respiratory or neurological complications. Measles infection can also cause subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), a rare but fatal brain disease that develops years after measles infection.
The measles vaccine has been in use in the combined MMR form since 1971, with some updates to the vaccine and vaccine schedule to improve efficacy since then. The most common side effects of the MMR vaccine are soreness at the injection site, fever and mild rash. Less common are temporary swelling of the glands in the neck and stiffness of the joints. More serious but rare side affects include febrile seizures, and temporary low blood platelet count.
The professional staff at the Richland County Health Department can discuss the virus and the vaccine with you so you can make informed decisions for your family. Please call us at 406-433-2207.
What should I do if I was exposed (as in, I was in the places at the times where exposure occurred)?
First, you should STAY HOME. Second, you should check your vaccination record for two doses of the MMR/MMRV vaccine.
If you are considered protected from the measles virus (received 2 doses of the vaccine or born before 1957), you may carry on with your normal activities, but watch for the symptoms described above for 21 days past exposure.
If you have received one dose of the vaccine, it is unlikely that you will become sick with the measles, but you should consider getting a second dose of the vaccine, and watch for the symptoms described above for 21 days past exposure.
If you are not protected from measles and have received zero doses of the vaccine or are unable to determine your vaccination status, you should STAY HOME and watch for the symptoms described above for 21 days past exposure. INSERT MEASLES Q SHEET HERE.
Is natural immunity better than receiving the vaccine?
While infection-induced immunity may last slightly longer, the vaccine offers strong, long-last protection. Measles can cause serious complications during infection, including pneumonia, encephalitis (swelling of the brain), ear infections with the potential to cause deafness, and death due to respiratory or neurological complications. Measles infection can also cause subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), a rare but fatal brain disease that develops years after measles infection.
The measles vaccine has been in use in the combined MMR form since 1971, with some updates to the vaccine and vaccine schedule to improve efficacy since then. The most common side effects of the MMR vaccine are soreness at the injection site, fever and mild rash. Less common are temporary swelling of the glands in the neck and stiffness of the joints. More serious but rare side affects include febrile seizures, and temporary low blood platelet count.
The professional staff at the Richland County Health Department can discuss the virus and the vaccine with you so you can make informed decisions for your family. Please call us at 406-433-2207.
Does vitamin A prevent or cure measles?
In developed countries like the United States, children are generally not deficient in Vitamin A. Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin, which in high doses can cause be toxic to your child. Cod liver oil is also contains Vitamin A. Too much vitamin A causes nausea, vomiting, headache, tiredness, joint and bone pain, blurry vision, skin and hair problems. It can also lead to serious problems like high pressure inside the skull that pushes on the brain, liver damage and coma. If you are pregnant, taking large doses of vitamin A can cause birth defects.Most children get enough vitamin A in their diet from foods like eggs, milk, cheese, cereal, leafy green vegetables, orange vegetables, fish and meat. Infants get vitamin A from breast milk. It is also in infant formula.
Talk with your pediatrician before giving a vitamin supplement, including Vitamin A and cod liver oil, to your child.
For more information, visit this link.
What are some non-governmental sources for information on measles and the measles vaccine?
We recommend Your Local Epidemiologist, the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, and immunize.org.
In developed countries like the United States, children are generally not deficient in Vitamin A. Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin, which in high doses can cause be toxic to your child. Cod liver oil is also contains Vitamin A. Too much vitamin A causes nausea, vomiting, headache, tiredness, joint and bone pain, blurry vision, skin and hair problems. It can also lead to serious problems like high pressure inside the skull that pushes on the brain, liver damage and coma. If you are pregnant, taking large doses of vitamin A can cause birth defects.Most children get enough vitamin A in their diet from foods like eggs, milk, cheese, cereal, leafy green vegetables, orange vegetables, fish and meat. Infants get vitamin A from breast milk. It is also in infant formula.
Talk with your pediatrician before giving a vitamin supplement, including Vitamin A and cod liver oil, to your child.
For more information, visit this link.
What are some non-governmental sources for information on measles and the measles vaccine?
We recommend Your Local Epidemiologist, the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, and immunize.org.
Updated May 14, 2025