By THE ALASKA STORY
July 27, 2026 – Measles virus RNA was detected in several Anchorage wastewater samples collected earlier this month, prompting Alaska public health officials to alert healthcare providers Monday.
The Alaska Section of Epidemiology said the virus was found in samples collected July 7, 8, 9 and 14. The concentrations were described as “very low,” and no recent human case of measles has been confirmed in Alaska.
The finding does not establish that measles is spreading in Anchorage, but it indicates that the virus was present somewhere within the Anchorage sewer system during the July 7–14 period.
The Anchorage sewershed includes the city and Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson but does not include Eagle River or Girdwood.
WastewaterSCAN, a national disease-surveillance program, notified state epidemiologists July 22 and 24 after metagenomic sequencing detected the viral genetic material.
Wastewater testing can detect viruses, bacteria and other substances shed through toilets, sinks, showers, laundry and drains. It cannot identify the person who carried the virus, establish whether that person was an Anchorage resident or visitor, or determine whether community transmission is occurring.
State officials emphasized that people cannot contract measles from wastewater. Measles is a respiratory disease that spreads through the air when an infected person coughs, sneezes or breathes.
The detection comes as the United States experiences its highest measles case count in 35 years. As of July 23, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had recorded 2,318 confirmed cases during 2026, already exceeding the 2,289 cases reported during all of 2025. Thirty-five new outbreaks have been reported this year, and 93% of confirmed cases have been linked to outbreaks, according to the CDC.
Alaska epidemiologists instructed healthcare providers to remain alert for patients with possible measles, particularly those with recent domestic or international travel, contact with travelers, or incomplete or unknown vaccination histories.
Early symptoms can include fever, cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes. Small white spots known as Koplik spots may develop inside the mouth, followed by a red rash that usually begins on the face and spreads downward across the body.
Providers who suspect measles are being instructed to place the patient in airborne isolation immediately and notify the Section of Epidemiology at 907-269-8000. The after-hours number is 800-478-0084. Officials said providers should not wait for laboratory confirmation before reporting a suspected case.
State health officials are also encouraging Alaskans to check whether they are current on their measles, mumps and rubella vaccinations. Children generally receive two doses of the MMR vaccine, while adults without evidence of immunity should consult a healthcare provider. The CDC says two doses provide the best protection and usually provide lifelong immunity against measles.
The wastewater results are not presently displayed on the public WastewaterSCAN dashboard because they were discovered through metagenomic sequencing rather than the standard digital droplet PCR testing used for publicly reportable concentration levels. WastewaterSCAN has indicated that sequencing results may be added to the dashboard in the future.
