Building the Future of Biodefense

Recommendation: Organizations in Grant County, South Dakota, should inform employees about the possible measles exposures. Organizations in South Dakota and North Dakota should provide flexible work schedules to support employees making vaccine appointments for themselves or family members. Measles is highly contagious and can quickly spread among unvaccinated individuals in a work environment.

Situation: South Dakota health officials have reported a new measles case in an adult resident from Grant County. The individual may have exposed the public in Milbank and Brookings at the Milbank VFW Bar (1/30), Sly’s Steakhouse (1/30), a wrestling tournament at Brookings High School (1/31), an ice hockey game at Larsen Ice Center (1/31), and Pints & Quarts (1/31). Exposed individuals should monitor for measles symptoms (7-21 days from exposure). In a neighboring state, North Dakota reported their 1st measles case of 2026 in Williams County. The individual was unvaccinated and acquired measles out of state. Close contacts were notified of their exposure to measles, and there were no community exposure locations. [Confidence: Very High]

Recommendation: Organizations in Val Thorens, France, should inform employees about the measles exposure location and provide flexible work schedules to support employees in making vaccine appointments for themselves or family members. Measles is highly contagious and can quickly spread among unvaccinated individuals in a work environment.

Situation: France reported 4 measles cases from 1/12 to 2/4 in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, indicating active circulation of the virus in the area. 1 case was hospitalized. The 4 cases stayed in the Val-Thorens ski resort during their contagious period. Exposed individuals linked to the resort should monitor for measles symptoms (7-21 days from exposure, if known). Health officials called residents, seasonal workers, and tourists visiting the resort to check their vaccination status and visit a healthcare provider if they experience measles symptoms. [Confidence: Very High]

Recommendation: Organizations in Collier County, Florida, should inform employees about the possible measles exposure. Organizations in Florida should provide flexible work schedules to support employees making vaccine appointments for themselves or family members. Measles is highly contagious and can quickly spread among unvaccinated individuals in a work environment.

Situation: According to media sources, the measles outbreak at Ave Maria University in Collier County grew from 11 to 20 cases (see PHC alert 2/3 for earlier info). More testing results are pending. The officials from the town's primary medical clinic, Mater Dei Clinic, confirmed that all cases appear to be currently contained within the campus. Exposed individuals linked to the school should monitor for measles symptoms (7-21 days from exposure, if known). Elsewhere in Florida, media sources reported a measles case in Pensacola in Escambia County, the 1st in Pensacola in 20 years. These cases have not yet appeared in Florida's Reportable Disease Frequency Report. [Confidence: Very High]