The Clark County measles outbreak adds an exposure site and remains at 62 cases



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The Clark County Public Health Unit has not identified new confirmed cases as part of its investigation into the measles outbreak. The number of confirmed measles cases remains at 62, but public health has identified a new exposure site and a new range of exposure time for a previously identified exposure site.

There is a new suspect case, according to a public health press release. Here is the new exhibition site and the new exhibition period for Pacific Middle School:

  • Emergency Department, PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center, 400 N.E. Mother Joseph Place, Vancouver, from 7.45 pm to 11.05 pm February 16th.
  • Pacific Middle School, 2017 N.E. 172nd Avenue, Vancouver, all day until 4:30 pm on February 12th. Public Health has already identified the school as an exhibition site, but this extends the period of exposure to extracurricular activities.

For a complete list of exhibition sites, visit our Measles Exposure Site page.

44 confirmed cases of Clark County measles are children under 11 years of age. There are 15 cases aged 11 to 18, one between 19 and 29 years old and two between 30 and 39 years old.

For more information on the outbreak, visit the Clark County Measles Inquiry Web page at clark.wa.gov/public-health/measles-investigation.

Other cases have been identified in King County and the Portland area.

What to do if you are infected

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that 90% of unimmunized people exposed to the measles virus contract the disease. The virus lives in the mucus of the nose and throat of an infected person and can survive up to two hours in an airspace where the infected person coughs or sneezes.

Health officials urge people at a specific location who feel they have symptoms of measles to call their health care provider before going to the doctor's office to develop a plan that avoids exposing others people in the waiting room.

If you are not sure about your family's immunization status, you can view, download and print your family's immunization information online at the wa.MyIR.net address or request a copy of your vaccination record at the Washington State Department of Health.

Anyone with questions about measles infection or measles vaccine should call their primary care provider or county health department:

Clark County Public Health, 360-397-8021.
Multnomah County, Oregon, Public Health, 503-988-3406.
Washington County, Oregon, Public Health, 503-846-3594.
Clackamas County, Oregon, Public Health, 503-655-8411.

The Clark County Public Health Service regularly updates its list of places where people may have been exposed to measles. There are dozens of locations in total, including hospitals, Portland International Airport and several schools.

Public Health has set up a call center for questions related to the survey. Anyone who has questions about public exhibitions should call 360-397-8021. The call center is open every day.

For a complete list of exposure sites, visit the Public Health Measles Survey Web page at www.doh.wa.gov/YouandYourFamily/IllnessandDisease/Measles/MeaslesOutbreak.

Symptoms of measles begin with a high fever, cough, runny nose and red eyes, followed by a rash that usually begins in the head and spreads to the rest of the body. A person can transmit the virus before it shows symptoms.

People are contagious with measles up to four days before and up to four days after the onset of rash. After a person's exposure to measles, the disease develops in about one to three weeks.

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