Vermont Department of Health confirms first measles case of 2025: What you need to know
Megan Stewart- Vermont confirmed its first case of measles in 2025, deemed low risk to the public.
- The infected individual, a school-aged child in Lamoille County, contracted measles while traveling internationally.
- Copley Hospital in Morrisville has been identified as an exposure site, and individuals present in the emergency department on March 9 between 3:15 p.m. and 6 p.m. are advised to check their vaccination records.
- Measles is a highly contagious and dangerous respiratory virus, with symptoms including fever, cough, runny nose, and a spreading rash.
- Vaccination with the MMR vaccine remains the most effective protection against measles.
Vermont has its first case of measles this year, the state Department of Health confirmed Tuesday afternoon. Public risk is deemed low as of Tuesday evening, but an investigation remains ongoing.
A "school-aged" child in Lamoille County became sick with the extremely contagious respiratory virus upon returning recently from an international trip with their family, according to a press release from the health department. The child has been isolated from most community spaces while contagious, which is the reason the department believes public risk is low.
Vermont's first measles case in 2025 was confirmed on Monday evening. One identified exposure site is Copley Hospital in Morrisville, where the child received an evaluation on Sunday, March 9. The hospital has contacted emergency department visitors during the exposure period.
How many cases of measles have been reported in the United States in 2025
This case is not related to the three current domestic measles outbreaks in the U.S. or the ongoing outbreak in Quebec, based on the state's investigation.
As of March 6, 222 measles cases were reported by 12 states: Alaska, California, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York (particularly New York City), Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, and Washington. This data from the CDC is reported weekly,
"There have been 3 outbreaks (defined as 3 or more related cases) reported in 2025, and 93% of cases (207 of 222) are outbreak-associated. For comparison, 16 outbreaks were reported during 2024 and 69% of cases (198 of 285) were outbreak-associated," according to the CDC.
How long has it been since Vermont had an outbreak of the measles
Vermont has seen multiple other measles cases within the last two decades, including two in 2024, one in 2018 and one in 2011.
Who might have been exposed to the measles in Vermont
Anyone who was inside the Copley Hospital emergency department between 3:15 and 6 p.m. Sunday, March 10, should take the following actions:
- Confirm you have evidence of measles immunity. Reach out to your healthcare provider or request your vaccination records. Vermonters can do so via the health department's Immunization Registry.
- If you aren't certain or can't confirm your immunity, seek advice from the health department at 802-863-7240. Press option 2.
- Monitor for symptoms through Sunday, March 30. If you develop symptoms, contact your health care provider. Do not go to the doctor's office, the hospital, or a clinic without first informing them about your symptoms and potential measles exposure.
What are the symptoms of the measles
Measles is one of the most contagious diseases and is highly dangerous, leading to the hospitalization of one out of five unvaccinated U.S. residents who catch the respiratory virus. Cases are continuing to rise due partially to a higher rate of unvaccinated people.
In Vermont, the vaccination rate for the MMR vaccine is at 96% for K-12 students, and in each Lamoille and Chittenden counties the vaccination rate is greater than 95%, according to the state's dashboard.
Initial measles symptoms include a cough, runny nose, watery eyes and a high fever that may surge higher than 104𝇈F. A rash of flat spots will show up on one's head and face before spreading to other areas of the body.
An infected person can spread the virus through coughs, sneezes or touching surfaces. Measles can remain in the air for as long as two hours after an infected individual leaves a space, and can be spread four days before and after an infected person develops a rash.
Measles has no treatment, but people can protect themselves by taking the MMR vaccine.
For more information on measles, visit https://www.healthvermont.gov/disease-control/measles.
Megan Stewart is a government accountability reporter for the Burlington Free Press. Contact her at mstewartyounger@gannett.com.