Public Health Nursing Updates 

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2/27/2026: State public health officials announce first two confirmed measles cases in Massachusetts this year

Boston — The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) confirmed today that two cases of measles have been diagnosed in Massachusetts residents.

  • The first case was reported in a school-aged Massachusetts resident who was exposed and diagnosed out of state and remains out of state during the infectious period. There are no known exposures to others in Massachusetts.
  • The second case was diagnosed in an adult who lives in Greater Boston. The individual recently returned from international travel and had an uncertain vaccination history. During their infectious period, the individual visited several locations where exposures to others likely occurred. State and local public health officials are working with these locations to identify and notify those who were potentially exposed.

These two cases of measles in Massachusetts have occurred in the context of a large national outbreak of measles and a very large international outbreak. Although there is no evidence of the spread of measles within Massachusetts at this time, additional cases could occur. View a 10-year table of vaccine-preventable disease reports in Massachusetts.

“Our first two measles cases in 2026 demonstrate the impact that the measles outbreaks, nationally and internationally, can have here at home. Fortunately, thanks to high vaccination rates, the risk to most Massachusetts residents remains low,” said Public Health Commissioner Robbie Goldstein, MD, PhD. “Measles is the most contagious respiratory virus and can cause life-threatening illness. These cases are a reminder of the need for health care providers and local health departments to remain vigilant for cases so that appropriate public health measures can be rapidly employed to prevent spread in the state. This is also a reminder that getting vaccinated is the best way for people to protect themselves from this disease.” 

Early symptoms of measles occur 10 days to 2 weeks after exposure and may resemble a cold (cough, runny nose, and red eyes), usually with fever. A rash occurs 2-4 days after the initial symptoms develop. The rash usually appears first on the head and then moves downward. The rash typically lasts a few days and then disappears in the same order.  People with measles may be contagious up to four days before the rash appears and four days after the day the rash appears. Measles is a potentially serious illness, with complications occurring in approximately 30 percent of infected individuals, including immune suppression, pneumonia, diarrhea, and encephalitis, which may be life-threatening.

Those who were exposed to measles and develop symptoms should call their health care provider before visiting an office, clinic, or emergency department. Visiting a health care facility without calling in advance may put others at risk and should be avoided. Anyone who has had measles in the past or has received two doses of the vaccine is unlikely to develop measles, even if exposed.

People who have had measles, or who have been vaccinated against measles per the DPH Guidance for Vaccines are considered immune. The Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) vaccine offers the best protection against measles and the serious complications associated with infection. The DPH recommendations for the MMR vaccination are:

  • Children: Children should receive their firstdose of the MMR vaccine at 12-15 months. School-aged children need two doses of the MMR vaccine.
  • Adults: Adults should have at least one dose of the MMR vaccine. Certain groups at high risk need two doses of the MMR vaccine, such as international travelers, health care workers, and college students. Adults born in the U.S. before 1957 are considered immune to measles from past exposures.

People who are exposed to measles and have not been vaccinated are at risk for developing measles and will need to avoid all public activities until they are no longer at risk of developing disease. This means that unvaccinated, exposed people will need to miss daycare, school, work, and other activities. Anyone concerned about measles is advised to contact their health care provider to confirm their immunization status and get vaccinated, if needed.

For additional information, contact your local health department or DPH at 617-983-6800. To learn more about measles, visit the DPH website.  

As September winds down and the summer wave of COVID infections recedes, wastewater levels, emergency room visits, and positive test rates are declining both in Massachusetts and nationwide.

With respiratory illness season approaching, it’s a good time to remember that even healthy individuals can become seriously ill. 

Taking steps to protect yourself and those around you—especially those at higher risk—is key during this time of year.

Those at highest risk include:Mother holding child with text

  • Adults aged 65 and older
  • Children younger than 2 years old

In addition, certain underlying conditions can increase the risk of severe illness, such as:

  • Chronic lung disease
  • Heart disease
  • Diabetes
  • Chronic kidney disease
  • Weakened immune system
  • Pregnancy
  • Certain disabilities


If you’re sick, take steps to prevent spreading illness to others, and seek care quickly if you’re at higher risk for serious illness.

  • Stay up to date with recommended immunizations.
  • Practice good hygiene like washing your hands regularly and cleaning commonly touched surfaces.
  • Take steps for cleaner air as possible in places where people live and work.
  • When sick with a respiratory illness:
    • Use precautions to prevent spread. Stay home and away from others.
    • Seek health care promptly for treatment if you have risk factors for severe illness; treatment may help lower your risk of severe illness.
  • Consider wearing a mask if you're feeling unwell, in crowded spaces, during times when illness is spreading in the community, or if you or someone close to you is at higher risk of severe illness.
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Repiratory Guidance Strategies 



Summer 2025: Heat


While extreme heat can affect anyone, some groups are at higher risk—including older adults, young children, pregnant people, outdoor workers, and individuals with chronic health conditions.

Learn more: People at Increased Risk for Heat-Related Illness | Heat Health | CDC

Without proper precautions, extreme heat—especially during prolonged periods of high temperatures and humidity—can become dangerous and even life-threatening.

Help keep yourself and our community safe. Explore the tips and resources below to stay informed and prepared.

Stay Cool and Stay Safe During Extreme Heat 

These simple steps can make a big difference when temperatures rise:

Keep Hydrated

  • Drink plenty of fluids, even if you don’t feel thirsty.
  • Monitoring the color of your urine is a simple way to check if you're staying well hydrated. Urine color chart.

Dress for the Heat

  • Wear lightweight, light-colored, and loose-fitting clothing.
  • Soak a handkerchief or neck gaiter in cold water, wring it out, and tie it around your neck. Re-wet and repeat throughout the day to stay cool.

Use Cooling Techniques

  • Take cool showers or apply cool, damp cloths to your skin.
  • Use fans to keep air moving, and turn on air conditioning if it's available.
  • Avoid using stoves or ovens, which can heat up your home.

Check on Others

  • Look out for older adults, people who live alone, or anyone who may need extra help during extreme heat.


Beat the Heat—Know Where to Cool Off


During periods of unhealthy heat, it’s important to know where to go to cool off. Staying cool can prevent serious health risks—plan ahead and spread the word.


Find a list of Cooling Centers in Northampton, or search the national database to locate one near you.

Cool Off at DCR Pools, Beaches, and Spray Decks

Residents and visitors can cool off at the Department of Conservation and Recreation’s (DCR) 79 waterfronts, 24 swimming pools, and 20 spray decks across the state. Lifeguards are on duty seven days a week at agency-managed swimming pools and 31 guarded waterfronts. 

For a list of DCR’s saltwater ocean beaches visit here, for the freshwater inland beaches visit here, and for a list of beaches that are accessible to people of all abilities visit here. All DCR swimming pools have chair lifts to provide access to the water. Several pools have ramps into the water or offer zero-depth entry and select pools and spray decks also have beach wheelchairs for use.  

Interactive Beach Water Quality Dashboard
Planning a beach day? Check water quality testing results to know if it's safe to swim.

Looking to stay cool this summer? Explore discounted or no-cost energy-efficient resources available to eligible Massachusetts households—including rebates on air conditioners, help with energy bills, and free home weatherization services.

Plan Ahead: Be Ready for Power Outages

  • Keep phones and essential devices charged. Consider backup power options if available.
  • Have emergency supplies on hand—such as flashlights, batteries, and nonperishable food.
  • If you rely on electricity for medical devices like home dialysis, breathing machines, or other life-support equipment:
        - Talk to your healthcare provider about how to manage during a power outage.
        - Make a backup plan to stay safe if the power goes out.

Heat and Air Quality

Poor air quality during extreme heat events can negatively affect respiratory and cardiovascular systems, which may trigger asthma attacks and heart attacks. Increases in pollen levels may also worsen allergies and other respiratory illnesses.

In addition to the high heat and humidity, shifting  winds are carrying smoke from the Canadian wildfires into our region, raising the Air Quality Index (AQI) to unhealthy levels.

Air Quality Index (AQI)  is a scale that measures the level of particulate matter- tiny particles in the air that are able to travel deep in the lungs. Particle pollution can cause serious health problems, including asthma attacks, heart attacks, strokes.

Visit AirNow.gov for local air quality forecasts.  On days when the AQI is forecast to be unhealthy, choose a less intense activity, shorten your outdoor activities, or reschedule outdoor activities.

Heat and Medications: What You Need to Know

Some medications can make it harder for your body to handle heat. They may affect your ability to sweat, stay hydrated, or even feel thirsty. That’s why it's especially important to take extra care with your medications during extreme heat.

  • Plan ahead: High temperatures can increase your risk of dehydration or overheating if you’re taking certain medications.
  • Make a Heat Action Plan With Your Doctor: Review your medications with your doctor to learn if heat may affect how they work—or how your body responds to it. Never stop or adjust your medications without talking to your healthcare provider.
  • Storage matters: Some medicines need to be kept cool and out of direct heat.
  • Prepare for power outages: Make a backup plan for refrigerated medicines and any electronic medical devices that require electricity.

Taking a few simple precautions can help you stay safe and ensure your medications work as they should during extreme heat.


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Additional resources:


Massachusetts Unhealthy Heat Forecast | Mass.gov - Stay informed with real-time heat forecasts and community resources to help you plan, prepare, and respond to unhealthy heat in Massachusetts.


Extreme heat | Mass.gov - Explore guidance, tools, and resources to help you understand, prepare for, and stay safe during periods of extreme heat in Massachusetts.


Measles

Spring 2025

Measles Illness

Measles is more than a rash, it infects the respiratory tract and then spreads throughout the body with symptoms including a high fever, cough, runny nose and a rash all over the body. But measles can cause severe disease including pneumonia, encephalitis, brain damage, pregnancy complications, and death. One of the most unique and most dangerous features of measles illness is its ability to reset the immune systems of infected patients - destroying immune memory from previous infections.

Measles is one of the most contagious infectious diseases caused by a virus that spreads when an infected person breathes, coughs or sneezes. In a completely susceptible population, one person with measles will infect an average of 12–18 other people. An infected person can transmit the disease four days before and four days after the onset of the rash, meaning they can transmit the disease not knowing they are sick. Measles spreads through the air and via droplets and the measles virus can stay in the air for several hours after an infected person coughs or sneezes. It does not require close contact with an infected person to transmit, you can get measles by breathing contaminated air or touching an infected surface. The virus can affect anyone but is most common in children.

Vaccination Guidance for Measles

Being vaccinated is the best way to prevent getting sick with measles, and importantly prevents spreading it to other people who may be immunocompromised or unable to be vaccinated (such as infants less than one year old).

The CDC recommends you speak with your Primary Care Provider or Pediatrician to determine together your need for measles vaccination. It may be a good time to review your immunization record, or have blood tests to assess your titer and evidence of immunity. If you need support you please call our department and ask to speak with a Public Health Nurse: 413-587-1214.

High vaccination rates in the general population help stop the spread of vaccine-preventable diseases. When vaccination rates drop in a community, the risk of an outbreak is increased significantly.  Measles vaccination recommendations differ depending on your age, health status, exposure to measles and vaccine history. 

In general: For children (18 years and younger)  vaccine schedules recommends to start at one year of age with a two dose series, however in some instances as young as 6 months can receive their first vaccine. Most people vaccinated with two doses of MMR are well protected for life, two doses being ~97% effective against the measles (CDC). 

People born before 1957 in most cases do not need to be vaccinated and can be presumed to be immune. This demographic lived through several years of epidemic measles before the first measles vaccine was licensed in 1963. As a result, these people are very likely to have had measles disease. Surveys suggest that 95% to 98% of those born before 1957 are immune to measles. But some adults should consider getting revaccinated depending on their medical history, including older adults who were born after 1957 and were vaccinated before 1968 (source).

CDC MMR Vaccine Guidelines For:

Where to Get Vaccinated

Vaccines are available in several places in our area including some pharmacies (see list below), urgent care, primary care, college health services, and community health centers, for example. We understand there may be significant barriers to access to vaccines, please call our department for support finding the vaccine. Some people may qualify to be vaccinated here at the DHHS. 

Local Pharmacies that carry MMR vaccine for Adults:

* All pharmacies recommend that customers call to confirm availability


  • Walgreens - (across from Stop and Shop)

225R King St, Northampton, MA 01060

(413) 587-2802

  • Big Y Pharmacy and Wellness Center

136 N King St, Northampton, MA 01060

(413) 586-5145

  • Walmart Pharmacy

180 N King St, Northampton, MA 01060

(413) 587-9555

  • CVS Minute Clinics in Amherst, West Springfield, and Palmer

 Information and Resources for Measles

Massachusetts DPH Clinical Advisory - Measles and Vaccination Protection

March 11, 2025: Massachusetts DPH issued a clinical advisory providing an update and addresses some of the questions we have recently received from providers. The advisory includes vaccination guidance and FAQs including scheduling, immunity and other questions. 

Read the DPH 3.11.2025 Measles Clinical Advisory

CDC issued HAN -Health Alert Network- Measles Guidance

March 7, 2025: The CDC issued an alert advising all people to be up to date on their MMR Vaccine. Expanding Measles Outbreak in the United States and Guidance for the Upcoming Travel Season. 

As of March 19, 2025, a total of 301 reported cases (up from 222 last week) of measles were reported by 12 jurisdictions: Alaska, California, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York City, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, and Washington. 50 hospitalizations with 2 reported deaths. Find more real-time updates of measles cases reported by the CDC.


Avian Influenza

Spring 2025

The Mass DPH Clinical Advisory for Enhanced H5N1 Avian Flu Surveillance

Highlighting enhanced surveillance for H5N1 avian influenza in people in Massachusetts and providing guidance to prioritize subtyping of certain specimens.

The Avian Flu Enhance Surveillance Clinical Advisory Link: Click here for the PDF.

Massachusetts Department of Public Health maintains an Avian Flu Webpage. Also, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention maintains webpages on Avian Influenza.

Research article may be of interest for Vets: Avian Influenza in Human Exposed to Sick Cats 2016

When to report dead birds in Massachusetts: 

  • If you find sick or dead seabirds (i.e., gulls, terns, cormorants, sea ducks)
  • If you find 5 or more wild birds of other species at a single location

The FDA describes the dangers of drinking raw milk. 


For Updates: Massachusetts Avian Flu. Or follow CDC H5N1 Virus and FDA H5N1.

Drought Alerts for Massachusetts

February 14, 2025:  In spite of recent storm events and snow fall, Massachusetts in still in a drought. Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Rebecca Tepper declared the following:

  • Level 3 - Critical Drought in the Central and Northeast Regions 
  • Level 2 - Significant Drought in the Connecticut River Valley, Southeast, Cape Cod and Islands Regions
  • Level 1 - Mild Drought in the Western Region  

EEA and MEMA continue to ask local, state and regional partners and stakeholder groups to assist in disseminating this information to residents, businesses and institutions in their respective communities. Attached is a one page “Drought Alert” (in pdf and jpg formats) that provides information on the current drought conditions and how individuals and communities across the Commonwealth can do their part on water conservation and drought preparedness and response. Also attached are two drought related infographics (What To Do During a Drought and Still in Drought) that you can feel free to distribute to your networks. 

For more information on the current drought conditions, technical guidance regarding drought management actions and for drought-related tools and outreach materials, please visit www.mass.gov/drought; for water conservation information, go to www.mass.gov/conservemawater.