Nearly 70 people diagnosed with measles in Oregon, Washington outbreak

The number of people with measles in Clark County continues to climb. Public health officials have identified 69 people between Oregon and Washington.

A young child was diagnosed Thursday, bringing the Vancouver-area total to 64 cases. Four people in Oregon and one is the Seattle area have also been identified.

Measles is a highly contagious virus that spreads through the air and can linger for up to two hours in an enclosed area. Nine out of 10 unvaccinated people who are exposed to the virus will contract it, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For every 1,000 people who get measles, one to two die.

The vast majority of people affected by the current outbreak were not vaccinated against the virus. Two people had one dose of the vaccine, which is 93 percent effective.

Two doses are 97 percent effective, and public health officials in Washington recommend that everyone who is unvaccinated or only received one get both shots to avoid contracting measles. The vaccine can reduce the risk of infection if gotten within 72 hours after exposure to the virus.

To help prevent further spreading of the disease, health officials ask that people who think they might have measles call their doctor or health care provider before going to a hospital or doctor’s office.

Clark County Public Health now maintains a daily call center for questions about the outbreak at 360-397-8021.

-- Molly Harbarger

mharbarger@oregonian.com
503-294-5923
@MollyHarbarger
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