Oregon Health Authority confirms second measles case in Salem

The Oregon Health Authority confirmed a second case of measles Tuesday in Salem. 

The case is linked to a traveler from Illinois who recently visited the county and is unrelated to the outbreak in Multnomah County and Clark County, Washington, Oregon Health Authority officials said in a release. 

Officials said the latest Salem measles patient does not attend Salem-Keizer Public Schools. 

Marion County health officials are working with OHA to notify individuals of their potential exposure and help them take steps to prevent exposing others. 

While most Oregonians have been vaccinated and have a low risk of illness, the risk could be higher for unvaccinated individuals who were exposed at Youth With a Mission, 7085 Battle Creek Road SE, Salem, between 7 a.m. on Feb. 18 and 5 p.m. on March 14. 

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Other potential Salem-area exposure sites have been removed from the list because the time period during which someone could have gotten measles has passed.

Officials are confident there are no other public exposure sites, according to Katrina Rothenberger, Marion County's Public Health Division director.

Health officials began monitoring unvaccinated individuals on March 1 after a traveler with measles visited several locations in Salem, Rothenberger said.

The person in the newest confirmed case had been under constant monitoring and was encouraged to stay home and not go to public places, she said. 

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Officials urge people to avoid going to the doctor if they have not been vaccinated, have been exposed and have symptoms. 

Instead, they are asked to contact a doctor by telephone to avoid exposing others in waiting rooms. 

Those with questions about public exposures should call (503) 588-5621. The call center is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The story will be updated when more information is available. 

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Virginia Barreda is the Breaking News Reporter for the Statesman Journal. She can be reached at 503-399-6657 or at vbarreda@statesmanjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter at @vbarreda2.