NEW: RIDOH Confirms Second Measles Case of 2026 in RI…
Go Local Prov • • health
Key Points:
- The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) confirmed a second measles case in 2026, involving a woman in her 20s who traveled internationally; this case is unrelated to the first confirmed case from April 18.
- The second patient was treated at Brown University Health Urgent Care and did not require hospitalization; RIDOH and Brown University are conducting outreach to potential contacts.
- RIDOH emphasized that measles is highly contagious but largely preventable through vaccination, noting that approximately 97% of Rhode Island kindergarteners have received the MMR vaccine.
- Health officials urge residents to ensure children over one year old are vaccinated, recommend vaccination before international travel, and advise anyone exposed with symptoms to contact healthcare providers before visiting clinics to avoid spreading the virus.
- Measles symptoms include high fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, mouth spots, and rash; there is no specific antiviral treatment, so care focuses on symptom management and preventing complications.
