Maine health officials have confirmed the state's sixth measles case of 2026 — an unvaccinated adult in Somerset County — and are warning that people may have been exposed at a Waterville urgent care facility.
The Maine CDC announced the case this week, making it the latest in a string of measles infections reported across the state this year. The patient is an adult who had not been vaccinated against the virus.
Of immediate concern is the potential exposure at a Waterville urgent care, where other patients and staff may have come into contact with the infected person. Health officials have not yet released the specific dates and times of the possible exposure, but said they are working to notify anyone who may have been affected.
Measles is among the most contagious viruses known to science. It spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes, and the virus can remain airborne in a room for up to two hours after that person has left. Symptoms typically appear seven to 14 days after exposure and include high fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, and a distinctive rash that spreads across the body.
Maine has now recorded six measles cases in 2026 — a notable uptick for a state that had gone years without a confirmed case. Health officials have pointed to declining vaccination rates in some communities as a factor in the virus's renewed spread.
The CDC recommends two doses of the MMR vaccine for most children, which provides about 97 percent protection against measles. Adults who are unsure of their vaccination status are urged to check with their healthcare provider.
Officials have not said whether additional exposure sites are being investigated, and it remains unclear how the Somerset County adult contracted the virus. More information is expected as the investigation continues.