Hawaii confirms travel-related measles case in child under 5

The Hawaii Department of Health has confirmed its first measles case this year in an unvaccinated child on Oahu under the age of 5.

Gov. Josh Green made the announcement during a news conference this morning, in which he urged everyone to get vaccinated for measles, mumps and rubella.

The case was confirmed Monday night, Green said, in a child that recently returned from international travel. The child developed a fever, runny nose and cough shortly after returning to Hawaii, and sought medical care at Queen’s Island Urgent Care Kapahulu after breaking out in a rash.

DOH said the child is now recovering at home on Oahu, and a household member with similar symptoms is being evaluated for possible measles infection.

“I don’t want anyone to panic,” said Green. “There is no reason to panic, and our Department of Health is on it. We’ve been talking through the morning and night about what we do. This is where good public health comes in. But we do have a kid with the measles.”

DOH is investigating the case and working to identify and directly inform those who may have been exposed to the child. Flight notifications have been issued, and an alert has been sent to health care providers statewide.

“The kid’s doing well, by all accounts,” said Green, “so we send our love and prayers to them.”

RELATED STORY: What to know about U.S. measles cases on the rise

Measles is a highly contagious disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

According to CDC, 9 out of 10 people of all ages exposed to an infected person will become infected if they do not have immunity. Exposure includes entering a room up to two hours after an infected person has been there.

“Let me be really clear — you’re sitting near somebody with the measles and you’re not vaccinated, you’ve got a really good chance to catch it,” said Green. “I mean, this stuff is infectious, so it’s very important that you listen carefully to our Department of Health officials to find out if you happened to be in that lounge with them, or on the plane with them, or at a play date.”

Measles can also result in complications including pneumonia and encephalitis, or inflammation of the brain. The best way to prevent measles, said DOH, is through vaccination.

Green said he has issued an emergency rules allowing a child with a religious exemption to receive an MMR vaccine while still retaining their religious exemption.

Hawaii’s last detection of measles two years ago was also travel-related.

In April 2023, DOH reported one case of measles in an unvaccinated Oahu resident returning from international travel. Several weeks later, DOH reported a second case in an Oahu resident who was exposed to the first case.

On the U.S. continent, meanwhile, the number of confirmed measles cases has now grown to 607 in 22 states, mostly in Texas, but also in New Mexico, Oklahoma and California.

Two school-aged children have died in Texas from the recent outbreak of measles, with the most recent death being an 8-year-old girl who was unvaccinated and previously in good health.

DOH, meanwhile, informs the public of possible exposure at the following places and times:

>> March 30, 10:50 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu at C gates, customs and baggage claim area.

>> April 1, 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. at Manoa Valley District Park art class.

>> April 4, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Queen’s Island Urgent Care on Kapahulu Avenue.

>> April 4, 1 p.m. to 7 p.m., Terminal 2 departure areas, TSA checkpoints and the gate area for Delta flight 309 to Atlanta, Ga.

DOH urges anyone who may have been potentially exposed at these places and times — and who are not up-to-date on their MMR vaccines or unsure of their status — to contact their health care provider immediately.

Those who were potentially exposed should watch for symptoms for three weeks, and if any measles symptoms appear, should immediately isolate at home and contact their health care provider right away.