Officials Warn of Possible Measles Exposure at Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park

Officials at Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park are warning visitors of a possible measles exposure after one person tested positive for the virus. The vaccinated adult visited the park on March 3 between 12 P.M. and 6 P.M. and traveled to the Welcome Center at Kilauea Military Camp and other outdoor locations.

“Individuals who were inside the visitor center during that time may have a higher risk of potential exposure,” the National Park Service wrote on its website.

The Hawai’i Department of Health (DOH) said it is investigating who else may have been exposed and is working with those individuals to prevent further spread of the disease.

“The visitor had recently arrived in Hawaii from a region of the continental United States with known measles transmission. After arrival, the visitor became ill, sought medical care, and is now recovering at a private residence on Oahu,” the DOH wrote in a March 7 statement.

Other visitors at risk of exposure include those who stopped at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport and Lāʻie Mormon Temple on the island of Oahu. People who went to Hilo International Airport or Hilo Siam Thai Restaurant on Hawaii Island may also have been exposed. It’s the first known measles case in Hawai’i this year.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that measles is one of the most contagious viral infections in the world and can be particularly dangerous for babies, young children, and pregnant and immunocompromised people. As of March 5, the CDC reported nearly 1,300 confirmed measles cases in the U.S. across 31 states in 2026, the majority of which occurred in unvaccinated individuals. In 2025, three people died from the disease.

The virus spreads by direct contact when an infected person coughs or sneezes, usually four days before developing a rash and four days afterward. The virus can also remain in the air for up to two hours after an infected person has left the room, DOH wrote.

Symptoms begin within 14 days of exposure and may include a fever, runny nose, red or watery eyes, and a cough. Within a few days, a rash usually appears on the face and spreads to the rest of the body.

“The best protection against measles is the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine. All children should receive two doses of the MMR vaccine,” wrote DOH. “If you are not protected against measles and are exposed to someone with the disease, contact your healthcare provider immediately.” All adults born during or after 1957 should also have documentation of at least one MMR vaccination, unless they have had a blood test showing they are immune to measles or have had the disease. If you’re uncertain whether you are fully vaccinated, DOH recommends contacting your healthcare provider.

NPS asks that anyone who visited the park on March 3 between 12 and 6 P.M. contact the Hawai‘i DOH.