Maine CDC Confirms Four More Measles Cases, Total Now Five

Maine CDC announced on Feb. 17 that four additional laboratory‑confirmed measles cases were identified in Penobscot County, bringing the state total to five confirmed cases. The agency said the four new cases had exposure to the Feb. 6 index case, all four are unvaccinated, and there are no new exposure locations identified or new exposure risks for the public.

State officials reiterated Maine’s outbreak definition as they described the cluster: “Maine defines a measles outbreak as three or more cases in unrelated households that share an epidemiological link. As of today, Maine does not have a measles outbreak.” Because the four newly confirmed cases are epidemiologically linked to the first Penobscot County case rather than occurring in unrelated households, the situation does not meet the state’s outbreak threshold.

The new confirmations follow the Department’s February 6 announcement of Maine’s first confirmed measles case since 2019. That initial case involved a Penobscot County resident who had recently traveled to a state with a measles outbreak, and the four additional cases were confirmed ten days later, on Feb. 17. To help the public track developments, Maine CDC launched a public measles dashboard on Feb. 17 to display case and outbreak numbers and the counties where cases are identified. “Today, the Maine CDC is launching a public measles dashboard for tracking case and outbreak numbers along with counties where cases are identified. This will serve as a resource for tracking measles in Maine going forward,” the agency said.

National context remains significant: the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 910 confirmed measles cases nationwide as of Feb. 13, 2026, underscoring continued spread elsewhere even as Maine’s cases remain limited to Penobscot County. Maine Morning Star noted the Feb. 6 index case was the first confirmed measles report in New England this year, following reports last year in Connecticut, Rhode Island and Vermont.

Maine CDC and WMTW emphasized measles’ high contagiousness and the practical guidance for clinicians and residents. “Measles is a highly contagious viral disease; if one person has it, 90% of the people close to that person who are not immune will become infected,” the department wrote. WMTW summarized transmission and timing: “An infected person spreads measles through coughs or sneezes. Once infected, a person is contagious from four days before their rash starts through four days afterward. The virus remains alive for up to two hours on surfaces and in the air. The period from exposure to onset of symptoms is typically 10 to 14 days but can be longer.” Officials advised anyone who develops symptoms to contact their health care provider for instructions before going to a clinic or hospital.

Maine CDC did not list individual ages, facilities, or addresses for the Penobscot County cases. The state’s public dashboard shows current case counts; Newscentermaine reported the dashboard indicates one of the five confirmed cases resulted in hospitalization, though no additional hospitalization details have been released. For Sagadahoc County residents, Maine CDC’s statement that there are no new exposure locations means no identified exposures in Sagadahoc County have been reported at this time.

Maine CDC’s dashboard will be the primary public tool for tracking any new cases or changes to exposure guidance going forward, and the department said it will use the dashboard to update case and outbreak numbers as investigations continue.