State epidemiologists are warning that the measles virus has been detected in Anchorage wastewater samples collected in early July, though no cases have been identified in Alaska recently.
The state was first notified on July 22 that samples detected measles virus RNA in Anchorage wastewater, though testing indicated that the concentration was “very low,” according to a state public health alert issued July 27.
The Anchorage sewershed includes the city of Anchorage and Joint Base Elmendorf-Richards, but not Eagle River or Girdwood.
People are not at risk of getting measles from the wastewater, as it spreads through respiratory transmission, according to the alert.
The state recommends that medical providers keep an eye out for measles symptoms in any patient: including fever, cough, nasal swelling and irritation, and red or pink coloring in the eyes, particularly when the patient has been traveling recently.
The United States is experiencing a record high measles outbreak. More cases have been reported in the last two years than in 2000 through 2024 combined. According to CDC data, the states hardest hit by outbreaks this year include Texas, Utah, Arizona, South Carolina, Florida, Virginia and Pennsylvania.
Measles was officially eliminated from the United States in 2000, meaning there were no cases of the virus spreading within the country and new cases had only been found when someone traveled abroad and returned. But, as vaccination rates have dropped, and global measles cases have risen, the number of confirmed cases in the U.S. has also risen.