Domestic Measles Importations in Washington State, January 2026
AbstractMeasles outbreaks are increasing in frequency and size in the United States. Within 2 weeks, there were five distinct out-of-state measles importations into Washington State epidemiologically connected to an outbreak in South Carolina, resulting in a total of 26 measles cases during January-February 2026. Genomic analyses supported epidemiologic conclusions regarding exposure sources of imported cases and independence among importations. Adherence to isolation and quarantine likely limited onward transmission in undervaccinated communities. Combining timely genomic data analysis with epidemiologic information can strengthen understanding of measles outbreaks as public health jurisdictions prepare to respond to increases in imported measles cases.
Authors
- Tao Sheng Kwan-Gett
- Kelly F. Oakeson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9070-4850)
- Nicholas R. Graff
- Susan Babcock
- Kaye Eckmann
- Kristen Waterman
- Maguire Kathleen
- Megan Bean
- Darren Lucas
- Theresa Murray
- Esther Lam
- Daniel A. Hartman (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9733-8355)
- Robert Sainsbury
- Allison Black (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6618-4127)
- Marco E. Tori (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3352-536X)
- Michelle L. Holshue (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2373-7115)
- Kate Johnson
- Julia Catherine Bennett (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2559-2922)
- Haley King
- Chas DeBolt (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4078-1089)
- Jasmine Matheson
- Scott W. Lindquist (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4525-9473)
- Kimberly Carlson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2022-8750)
- James W. Lewis (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3973-9307)
- Brianna da Silva Bhatia
- Vivian N. Hawkins
- Alan L. Melnick
- Elisabeth Long
- Hollianne Bruce
- Amanda Dodd
- Mary Huynh
- Ethan Dieringer
- Sierra Kerns-Funk
- Abigail Hicks
- Qing Yang
- Nicholas Hanson
- Camerin Rencken
- Jacundo Ramos
- Sarah Krantz
- Nick Madej
- Mark Larson
- Leticia Banuelos
- Sarah Legat
- Sam Artzis
- Lacey Olufsen
- Molly Corvino
- Elle Palmer
Institutions
- Washington State Department of Health (US)
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US)
- University of Washington (US)
- Northeast Health (US)
- Snohomish Health District (US)
- Epidemic Intelligence Service (US)
- Clark County Public Health (US)
- South Carolina Department of Public Health (US)
- Utah Department of Health and Human Services (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- NEJM Evidence
- Published
- 2026-10-26
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1056/evidpha2600191
- Primary Topic
- Virology and Viral Diseases
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00