Seattle Children's Hospital Nurse Diagnosed with Measles

Measles has been diagnosed in a nurse at Seattle Children's Hospital, after treating a patient with the highly contagious disease, health officials said Monday.

The nurse, in her twenties and working in the hospital ward, was potentially contagious from July 8th to July 11th. She was also at the Metropolitan Market at Sand Point Way on July 8 and at Safeway in Kenmore on July 10. Public Health – Seattle and King County.

She is fully vaccinated and wearing proper protective gear to take care of the sick child, Seattle Children's said in a statement. The patient was in the hospital emergency room on June 22, 25 and 26, but had no symptoms of measles until the third visit. The child was immediately put in isolation, said the hospital.

The hospital informs patients, families and staff members who may have been exposed.

The specific exposure times are listed here.

The nurse is the 10th case of measles in King County since May, according to the Department of Health.

Measles is highly contagious and can be fatal for people with weakened immune systems. The virus causes fever, rashes and watery eyes. It is very contagious; A person can get measles up to two hours after the departure of the infected person.

Symptoms appear from seven days to three weeks after the last exposure. A rash may appear 10 to 12 days after exposure.