Confirmed measles case in King Co. prompts investigation, warning
SEATTLE - UPDATE (8:30 p.m. Jan. 23) The suspected measles case has been confirmed.
Public health officials say they are investigating whether a measles outbreak in the Vancouver, Wash., area may have spread to King County.
The investigation was launched after a King County man in his 50s was hospitalized for a case of measles, said a spokesperson for Public Health Seattle & King County.
It's not clear where the man became infected with the disease, although he reported recent travel to Vancouver, where a measles outbreak is occurring, during part of the time he could have been exposed. Some 23 cases of measles have been confirmed in the Vancouver area in recent days, and at least two more are suspected.
Measles is a highly contagious disease, but most people do have immunity to it through vaccination or because they've already had the measles. However, anyone without immunity can get it just by being in a room where a person with measles has been, said Dr. Jeff Duchin, health officer for Public Health Seattle & King County.
At the county level, 91 percent of kindergartners are vaccinated, but health officials say there is significant variability from school to school with some having high levels that protect against outbreaks and others with levels that are too low to provide protection against measles outbreaks. A school-by-school breakdown can be found here ...
Duchin urged anyone who doesn't have immunity to get vaccinated as soon as possible.
"Fortunately, the measles vaccine is very effective. Two doses of measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine provides over 95 percent protection against measles and that protection is long lasting," he said.
Health officials released a list of public places where the suspected King County measles carrier has been while he was contagious. Anyone who was in those areas during the times listed could have been exposed to measles:
- 1/9/19, 7 am-6 pm, Lease Crutcher Lewis Boeing 17-88 Construction Site (2400 Perimeter Rd, Auburn WA, 98001)
- 1/10/19, 7 am-6 pm Lease Crutcher Lewis Boeing 17-88 Construction Site (2400 Perimeter Rd, Auburn WA, 98001)
- 1/10/19, 6:30 pm-10:30 pm, Mt Rainier High School vs Kentlake High School basketball game @ Kent Lake High School (21401 SE Falcon Way, Kent, WA 98042)
- 1/11/19, 7 am-2 pm, Lease Crutcher Lewis Boeing 17-88 Construction Site (2400 Perimeter Rd, Auburn WA, 98001)
- 1/12/19, 6:30-10:30 pm, Kent Lake High School vs. Tahoma High School basketball game @ Kent Lake High School (21401 SE Falcon Way, Kent, WA 98042)
- 1/14/19, 09:55 am-12:45 pm, Valley Medical Center- Covington Urgent Care (27500 168th Place SE, Covington, WA 98042)
- 1/16/19, 10:00 am -12:15 pm, Multicare Covington Hospital Emergency Department (17700 SE 272nd St, Covington, WA 98042)
Anyone who was at the locations at the times listed above and who is not immune to measles, would be mostly to get sick between Jan. 16 and Feb. 6.
Measles is a highly contagious and potentially severe disease that causes fever, rash, cough, and red, watery eyes. It mainly spreads through the air after a person with measles coughs or sneezes.
Measles symptoms begin seven to 21 days after exposure. Measles is contagious from approximately four days before the rash appears through four days after the rash appears. People can spread measles before they have the characteristic measles rash.
Measles complications can include ear infections, diarrhea, pneumonia, and rarely, encephalitis (brain inflammation).
Complications from measles can happen even in healthy people but those at highest risk include: infants and children under 5 years, adults over 20 years, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems from drugs or underlying disease.
