The Hawai’i Department of Health has announced that a case of measles has been confirmed on Oahu as of 4/5/2025. While there are no confirmed or suspected cases on the island of Hawai’i, your care team at HICHC remains vigilant and is closely watching the situation to help ensure our patients and community are protected.
What is Measles?
Measles is a highly contagious virus that can cause severe illness and serious health complications, especially in children younger than 5 years, adults older than 20, pregnant women, and people with immune deficiencies.
Even in previously healthy individuals, complications of the illness can include pneumonia, brain swelling, death, and subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) a rare brain disorder occurring years after the measles infection.
Signs and symptoms of measles include: high fever, cough, runny nose, and red watery eyes. These symptoms are followed 3-5 days later by a rash that begins at the hairline and moves to the rest of the body.
How to Protect Against Measles
The best way to prevent measles is to get vaccinated at the recommended age.
All children should receive two doses of the MMR vaccine, which protects against three diseases: measles, mumps, and rubella. The first dose is given between 12-15 months of age, and the second dose at 4-6 years of age.
If you are not protected against measles, it is not too late to ask your healthcare provider to begin the MMR vaccine schedule. Even if exposed to measles, the MMR vaccine may prevent or lessen the severity of illness if given within 72 hours of exposure.