HARTFORD, CT — Connecticut health officials have confirmed the state's third measles case of 2026, involving a Hartford County adult who recently returned from international travel.
The Connecticut Department of Public Health announced the case Tuesday after testing at the State Public Health Laboratory confirmed the infection.
The adult was hospitalized after developing symptoms that included a high fever and later a rash, according to DPH. The person's vaccination status is unknown.
The case brings Connecticut's 2026 measles count to three, the state's highest number of cases since 2019, according to DPH.
The new case comes amid a significant increase in measles infections nationally.
As of Aug. 20, 2,777 cases had been reported across the country this year, the highest annual total since 1991, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
About 94 percent of cases this year have been associated with outbreaks, and approximately 93 percent of patients were unvaccinated or had an unknown vaccination status, according to the CDC.
"This case is a reminder that measles remains a real risk for unvaccinated travelers, particularly to parts of the world where measles is still circulating widely," Connecticut Public Health Commissioner Dr. Manisha Juthani said.
"Two doses of the MMR vaccine are about 97 percent effective at preventing infection," Juthani said. "If you are planning international travel, especially with infants or unvaccinated family members, please check your MMR vaccination status and talk to your healthcare provider well before you leave."
Measles is highly contagious and can spread through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
According to the CDC, nine out of 10 unvaccinated people who come into contact with an infected person will contract the virus.
The disease can cause serious complications, particularly among children younger than 5. About one in five unvaccinated people in the United States who contract measles are hospitalized, according to health officials.
Symptoms typically begin seven to 14 days after exposure and can initially include fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, and sore throat.
A red or reddish-brown rash typically develops three to five days after those symptoms begin.
The rash generally starts on the face near the hairline before spreading downward across the body. A person's fever can rise above 104 degrees when the rash appears.
DPH, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and other medical organizations recommend two doses of the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine.
The first dose is generally given between 12 and 15 months of age and the second between ages 4 and 6.
Connecticut has one of the country's highest MMR vaccination rates.
According to the state's 2025-26 school immunization survey, 98.6 percent of Connecticut students had received two MMR doses by kindergarten entry, compared with 92.4 percent nationally.
Connecticut's rate is the second-highest in the nation, according to DPH.
Health officials said residents who believe they may have been exposed to measles should:
More information about measles and MMR vaccination is available through the Connecticut Department of Public Health or by calling 2-1-1.
For more information on measles and measles vaccines, click on this link.
To create a vaccination record for yourself, click on this link.
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