SAIPAN — The Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation said it continues to closely monitor measles activity in the United States and worldwide and is urging the CNMI community to ensure vaccinations are up to date to protect against the highly contagious disease.
CHCC said measles spreads easily through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Early symptoms typically include fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes, followed by a rash that begins on the head and spreads to the rest of the body. Symptoms usually appear seven to 10 days after exposure.
As of early 2026, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported 733 confirmed measles cases across more than 20 states, with numbers rising steadily amid ongoing outbreaks, including one of the largest in decades centered in South Carolina. Public health officials have said most confirmed cases are among unvaccinated individuals.
While the CNMI has not reported recent measles cases or local outbreaks, CHCC noted that residents and travelers may still be exposed when traveling internationally or to parts of the United States experiencing active transmission. Declines in measles vaccination coverage globally and in some U.S. communities have contributed to increased outbreak risk.
CHCC said measles can lead to serious complications, particularly for children under five years old and infants under one year of age. According to CDC estimates cited by CHCC, about one in 20 children with measles develops pneumonia, roughly one in 1,000 may develop encephalitis, and between one and three in 1,000 children infected may die from respiratory or neurological complications if not appropriately managed.
Health officials said vaccination with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine remains the most effective protection. Two doses of the MMR vaccine are approximately 97 percent effective at preventing measles. The vaccine is routinely given at 12 months of age and again at 4 years of age, and individuals who complete the two-dose series are considered fully protected and do not require a booster.
For infants traveling to areas where measles is circulating, CHCC said an early dose of MMR may be given as early as 9 months of age for temporary protection, though this dose does not replace the standard two-dose series.
CHCC advised anyone experiencing symptoms consistent with measles to contact their primary care provider or the CHCC Emergency Room before arriving to reduce the risk of spreading infection to others.
Vaccines are available at no cost to individuals ages 0 to 18 with Medicaid or no insurance through the CHCC Immunization Clinic, Children’s Clinic, Rota Health Center, and LCVA Health Center. Additional vaccine providers in the CNMI include Medical Associates of the Pacific, Marianas Medical Center, Kagman Isla Community Health, Southern Isla Community Health, Tinian Isla Community Health, and Brabu Pharmacy.
Residents can contact the CHCC Immunization Program at (670) 236-8745, Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., for questions about vaccination status or access to providers.
