HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - Gov. Josh Green confirmed a travel-related case of measles in an unvaccinated child on Oahu who is under the age of 5.
Green said the child recently traveled internationally and is recovering at home. A household member with similar symptoms is under evaluation.
“There is no reason to panic, but there is a need to act,” Green said. “Measles isn’t just a rash and a fever. It’s one of the most contagious viruses known.”
The Department of Health is actively investigating, issuing flight notifications, contacting those who may have been exposed and alerting health care providers statewide.
Dr. Kenneth Fink, Hawaii Department of Health director, says the public may have been exposed if they were at the following locations and time periods:
“It’s heartbreaking to see a child suffering from measles. I have seen it, but ... rarely, because of vaccines,” said Dr. Jannet Lee-Jarayam, a clinical associate professor at the John A. Burns School of Medicine.
Those unsure of their vaccination status should contact their health care provider.
Health officials say the best way to prevent an outbreak is to have at least a 95% community vaccination rate for community (or herd) immunity. Statewide, Hawaii’s MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccination rate stands at 89.8%.
State epidemiologist Dr. Sarah Kemble says they have at least a dozen people ready to help with contact tracing as needed.
“For measles, this is actually an age-old illness, unfortunately. So we are very familiar with measles. We have done these investigations over the years. Our last reported case was in 2023, thankfully with limited spread, so there wasn’t an outbreak that ocurred because of that case.”
Locate a vaccine provider.
“Hospitals and clinics across Hawaii are on high alert,” said Dr. Nadine Tenn Salle, clinical chair of pediatrics at The Queen’s Health Systems. “We’re ready to identify and isolate cases, but our best defense is prevention. That means vaccination — not just for your child, but to protect newborns, the immunocompromised, and others who cannot be vaccinated. This is a community effort, and the medical community is here to help every step of the way.”
“We’ve already seen what happens when vaccination rates drop: more cases, more outbreaks, more lives at risk. The best thing you can do to protect your family, your community and our keiki is to get vaccinated. It’s simple, it’s safe and it saves lives,” Green said.
All children should receive two doses of the MMR vaccine. The first dose is given at age 12-15 months and the second dose at 4-6 years of age.
If you are planning travel, consult your healthcare provider to determine whether an additional or earlier dose of MMR is recommended.
All adults born during or after 1957 should also have documentation of at least one MMR vaccination, unless they have had a blood test showing they are immune to measles or have had the disease. Certain adults at higher risk of exposure to measles (e.g., post-secondary school students, international travelers, and healthcare personnel) need a second dose of MMR vaccine, at least four weeks after the first dose.
“Two doses is considered fully vaccinated. And no booster is required if you have them,” said Dr. Lee-Jayaram.
For those who are unvaccinated against measles, the disease is extremely contagious -- even more than COVID.
“This close ... I wouldn’t even want to be even this close,” Dr. Lee-Jayaram said as she stood six feet away from HNN’s reporter. “I wouldn’t want to be in the room as somebody with measles. It’s that contagious.”
She also said COVID precautions won’t help, either.
“The mask is not going to protect you if you’re unvaccinated or if you don’t have immunity.”
On Tuesday, Green signed emergency rules to allow children with religious exemptions to receive the MMR vaccine while still retaining their exemption to other vaccines and staying in school.
Some schools have dangerously low coverage, especially on neighbor islands, health officials said.
Parents are asked to report any updates to their child’s vaccination record to their school to ensure that the school’s vaccination data is accurate and up to date. Should a measles outbreak occur in Hawaii, students without a record of an MMR vaccine may be prohibited from attending school.
To access vaccines, parents and school staff should contact the child’s preferred healthcare provider or a local community clinic.
Schools and offices interested in hosting vaccination clinics can also call the DOH Immunization Branch at (808) 586-8300.
Measles, declared eliminated in the United States in 2000, is resurging. In 2025, more than 600 cases have already been reported across 22 states. Globally, cases have surged, with the World Health Organization estimating 10.3 million cases in 2023.
“The last confirmed case occurred in 2023, and additional travel-related cases are not unexpected. Our goal is to prevent cases from becoming outbreaks,” health director Fink said.
For more information about measles, visit:
Watch Gov. Green’s full press conference here:
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