Measles In MA: Worcester County Resident Is First Case In Years

WORCESTER, MA — State health officials confirmed the first case of measles in Massachusetts in years Thursday, revealing that a person from Worcester County who traveled internationally contracted the disease.

The measles case is the first in Massachusetts since early 2020, and comes amid a wider surge of the highly contagious disease across the U.S. this year. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there have been 167 cases confirmed since January across the nation.

Many of the cases, health officials say, are linked to people who have not received the measles vaccine. Outbreaks in Europe have also sickened people who have traveled there and returned to the U.S.

According to DPH, people who may have been exposed to the Worcester County resident have been contacted. Earlier this month, state health officials issued a broad warning about possible measles exposures linked to a bus that traveled between Logan Airport and Dartmouth College in New Hampshire.

"Measles is a highly contagious, airborne disease, which has increased worldwide, including here in the United States and in neighboring states in New England," state Public Health Commissioner Dr. Robbie Goldstein said in a news release. "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."

Learn more about measles symptoms, health risks and how to get vaccinated on the DPH website.