#measles Hawaiʻi

The Hawaiʻi Department of Health has been notified of a second detection of measles virus in wastewater from West Maui County. The latest positive sample was collected Nov. 30, 2025 and was tested through the National Wastewater Surveillance System.

Vaccination rates among kindergartners in Hawaiʻi improved for the 2024-2025 school year compared to the 2023-2024 school year. However, religious exemptions continue to increase across grades K-12.

The Hawai‘i Department of Health is closely monitoring a positive wastewater sample for measles virus, which marks the first wastewater detection of the virus in the state. The sample was collected Aug. 11, 2025, at a site in West Hawai‘i County, and DOH was notified of the result on Aug. 26, 2025. No suspected measles cases have been reported as of Aug. 27, 2025.

The Hawaiʻi State Department of Health continues to respond to a confirmed measles case in an Oʻahu child and a presumptive case in an adult member of the child’s household. Both individuals were exposed during international travel. The child has fully recovered. No new suspected measles cases have been reported as of April 14.

The state department of Health is expanding efforts to prevent a measles outbreak in Hawaiʻi as cases continue to spread across the mainland and globally.  This includes expanded educational outreach about exposure risks and encouraging more vaccinations.