Measles case reported in Alaska
An Alaska Public Health Alert was issued because a measles case was confirmed in a resident of the Southern Kenai Peninsula.
This person is an unvaccinated adult who began experiencing symptoms while traveling home to Alaska from a trip overseas.
This person was infectious while flying on Alaska Air flight 228 from Seattle to Anchorage on January 10 and while at the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport from approximately 10PM January 10 to 12AM January 11. Nonimmune persons who were near the infected person on the airplane or in the airport could be at risk for developing measles.
The person then drove from Anchorage to the Southern Kenai Peninsula and remained at home except for seeking healthcare.
The person sought care and was immediately isolated upon arrival at the South Peninsula Hospital Emergency Department on January 13; clinical specimens were obtained for measles testing. The patient was transferred in isolation to Providence Alaska Medical Center on January 14 and maintained in isolation during hospitalization. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing at the Alaska State Virology Laboratory was positive for measles RNA virus on January 15.