Clark County measles outbreak rises to 61 cases

VANCOUVER, Wash. – Clark County Public Health confirmed two new measles cases on Sunday, bringing the total to 61 identified cases in the outbreak since the beginning of the year.

Officials also identified two new locations where the contagious patients visited and may have exposed others to the measles.

At this point, most of the cases involve children under 10 years old. Authorities say 14 of the cases involve children 11 to 18 years old, one patient between 19 and 29 years old, and two cases for people ages 30 to 39.

Records show that 54 of the patients were unimmunized, five people were not verified to have had the vaccine, and two cases where patients only had the first MMR shot.

The two new locations where contagious patients had visited were:

Image Elementary School, 4400 NE 122nd Ave., Vancouver on Monday, Feb. 11; Tuesday, Feb. 12; Wednesday, Feb. 13; Thursday, Feb. 14; and Friday, Feb. 15.

Pacific Middle School, 2017 NE 172nd Ave., Vancouver on Monday, Feb. 11; Tuesday, Feb. 12; and Wednesday, Feb. 13.

You can find a complete list of exposure sites online.

Measles symptoms begin with a mild fever, cough, runny nose and red eyes, followed by a rash.

If you or your child show signs of measles, call your health care provider before coming in so they can limit exposing anyone else in the waiting room.

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.

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