Panhandle Health confirms first measles case in Kootenai County since 1991
Panhandle Health District (PHD) has confirmed a case of measles in an unvaccinated child in Kootenai County, the first in an Idaho resident since 2023 and the first in the northern Panhandle since 1991. PHD is investigating how the child contracted the virus and is notifying locations the individual visited while infectious to alert those who may have been exposed.
Measles is extremely contagious, spreading through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs or sneezes. The virus can remain airborne for up to two hours after the person has left. Symptoms typically appear 7-14 days after exposure and include high fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes and a distinctive rash. While many recover fully, measles can cause serious complications, especially in young children and those with weakened immune systems.
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