Billings residents who rode the main lobby elevators at Intermountain Health St. Vincent Regional Hospital between 9:45 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026, may have been exposed to measles, according to RiverStone Health. The individual who tested positive does not reside in Yellowstone County.
RiverStone Health asks anyone who was in that area and is not immune to contact the public‑health line at 406‑247‑3305. Those who are not immune can receive post‑exposure prophylaxis with the MMR vaccine by 9:40 p.m. on Nov. 11, a deadline set by the health department to help prevent illness or lessen symptom severity.
Chief Medical Officer Megan Littlefield told MTN that the first measles case in Montana this year was confirmed in April 2025, the first in the state since the 1990s, and that the state has now recorded “over 30 cases.” She noted that the CDC has documented a sharp rise nationally, with approximately 2,300 cases reported last year and more than 5,000 so far this year.
Jon Forte, Yellowstone City‑County Health Officer and President‑CEO of RiverStone Health, praised the hospital’s rapid response, saying the team “identified the concern quickly, took the appropriate precautions and worked side by side with local public‑health teams,” which he said kept community risk low.
The Bozeman Daily Chronicle reported that Yellowstone County has not recorded any measles cases in 2026, while six cases have been confirmed in Lewis and Clark County and Fergus County, and two new cases were identified in Carbon County on Nov. 10. The Chronicle also cited CDC guidance that individuals are considered protected if they were born before 1957, have had a prior infection, or have received two doses of a measles‑containing vaccine.
RiverStone Health’s Immunization Clinic at 123 South 27th Street in Billings offers the MMR vaccine. Appointments can be scheduled online at RiverStoneHealth.org/Immunizations or by calling 406‑247‑3382. The vaccine is covered by insurance or provided at no cost to uninsured patients.
What’s next: Residents who believe they may have been exposed should call the health line before visiting any medical facility so staff can take appropriate precautions. The MMR vaccine remains available at the RiverStone clinic, and the health department will continue monitoring for additional cases in the region.
Sources: ktvq.com, bozemandailychronicle.com
