FILE – This Feb. 6, 2015, file photo, shows a measles, mumps and rubella vaccine on a countertop at a pediatrics clinic in Greenbrae, Calif. A measles outbreak near Portland has sickened dozens of people in Oregon and Washington, with several more cases suspected, and public health officials scrambling to contain the virus say low vaccination rates are making the situation worse. Clark County Public Health said Sunday, Jan. 28, 2019, that the majority of the cases involve children younger than 10. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg, File)
VANCOUVER, Wash. –Health officials say there are now 43 confirmed cases of measles in the Clark County outbreak, including one person who had one dose of the MMR vaccine.
Authorities say they are also looking at 8 suspected cases of the virus.
Clark County Public Health said most of the patients are children under 10 years old, ten cases involve kids ages 11 to 18 and one case is in an adult between the ages of 19 and 29.
Of the cases, 37 people were not immunized and five cases are not verified to have had the vaccine. One of the patients received one of the two doses of the MMR vaccine.
The CDC says one dose of the MMR vaccine is 93 percent effective, while having two doses of the vaccine is 97 percent effective.
Children typically receive the first MMR vaccine at one year to 15 months old, and the second dose from 4 to 6 years of age.
The patients visited several public places while contagious – including the Portland International Airport and Moda Center – and could have exposed thousands of other people to the virus. | FULL LIST OF EXPOSURE SITES
“Measles can be so contagious that you can be in a room, and if you’re susceptible, two hours after someone with measles left, and still get the disease,” said Dr. Alan Melnick, the director of public health for Clark County.
Measles symptoms begin with a mild fever, cough, runny nose and red eyes, followed by a rash.
If you or your child went to one of the possible exposure sites and show signs of measles, call your health care provider before coming in so they can limit exposing anyone else in the waiting room.
Oregon residents can visit the Oregon Health Authority website to find out if they’re vaccinated.
“Most people are immunized, but again measles does have a way of finding people who aren’t. It’s the most contagious human disease we know about,” Dr. Paul Lewis with Multnomah County Health said.
Dr. Lewis says if you have a child under the age of 1 that you are concerned about, you can talk to your healthcare provider about getting the vaccine early. You should also check with any daycare your child attends to make sure they require their workers to be up to date on immunizations.
If you have any further questions about the measles, call your local health department:
- Clark County Public Health: (360) 397-8021
- Clackamas County Public Health: (503) 655-8411
- Multnomah County Public Health: (503) 988-3406
- Washington County Public Health: (503) 846-3594
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