Shiloh
Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: https://www.clark.wa.gov/public-health/measles-investigation
[h=3]Current investigation - updated 3/18/2019[/h] Clark County Public Health is continuing its measles outbreak investigation. Since Jan. 1, Public Health has identified 73 confirmed cases and is currently investigating two suspect cases. There are no new locations where people may have been exposed to measles.
Here are the details of the confirmed cases:
Public Health has identified suspect cases that were unimmunized when exposed to measles and received the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine more than 72 hours after exposure. To prevent illness, one dose of MMR vaccine must be given to unimmunized people within 72 hours of exposure.
About 5 percent of previously unvaccinated people will develop a rash after being immunized. When administered after 72 hours, the vaccine is less likely to prevent illness, and if the person develops a rash, there is a small chance that the rash is due to the vaccine. People who experience these mild vaccine-associated rashes cannot transmit the virus to other people.
However, in these situations, it is difficult to determine whether the rash is a benign vaccine reaction or measles illness. Specimens for these suspect cases are sent to a specialized laboratory out of state to confirm measles, but it can take more than a week to get the results. In those cases, pending lab results, Public Health will treat the suspect cases as we would treat confirmed cases and release information about public locations the cases visited while potentially contagious with measles. Public Health will remove those locations if the cases are ruled out.
On Feb. 12, Public Health removed one previously confirmed case after additional testing revealed the case was actually experiencing benign vaccine rash. That case ? an unimmunized child 1 to 10 years old ? received one dose of measles-mumps-rubella, or MMR. Public Health also removed the exposure locations associated with this case since the vaccine virus cannot be transmitted to others.
To date, the majority of lab results of confirmed cases have matched a wild strain of virus circulating in Eastern Europe. The others were vaccine strain, which were identified as described above.
Public Health is not providing any additional information about the three cases with one dose of MMR in order to protect the patients? privacy.
?The measles vaccine isn?t perfect, but one dose is 93 percent effective at preventing illness,? said Dr. Alan Melnick, Clark County health officer and Public Health director. ?The recommended two doses of the measles vaccine provide even greater protection ? 97 percent.?
Clark County Public Health is urging anyone who has been exposed and believes they have symptoms of measles to call their health care provider prior to visiting the medical office to make a plan that avoids exposing others in the waiting room. People who believe they have symptoms of measles should not go directly to medical offices, urgent care centers or emergency departments (unless experiencing a medical emergency) without calling in advance.
Anyone with questions about measles immunity or the measles vaccine should contact their primary care provider. Clark County Public Health does not provide immunizations or testing for immunity.
Public Health will update this webpage as additional information becomes available.
[h=3]Public exposure locations - new locations will be shown in red[/h] Some exposure sites have been removed from the list below because the period during which someone could have gotten measles (incubation period) has passed. The list of those locations is available in the Frequently Asked Questions section at the bottom of this webpage.
People who visited the following locations may have been exposed to measles and may be at risk of contracting the measles:
Health care facilities:
Other locations:
For information about measles cases and outbreaks in the U.S., visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
If you're unsure of your family's immunization status, you can view, download and print your family's immunization information online at MyIR or request a copy of your immunization record from the Washington State Department of Health.
Clark County Public Health has deactivated the measles call center. Anyone with questions about measles infection or the measles vaccine should call their primary care provider or their local county health department:
The latest news release about the Clark County measles investigation is available here.
[h=5]Additional resources[/h] Measles fact sheet - English
Measles fact sheet - Spanish
Measles fact sheet - Ukraine
Measles fact sheet - Russian
Provider advisories
[h=3]Current investigation - updated 3/18/2019[/h] Clark County Public Health is continuing its measles outbreak investigation. Since Jan. 1, Public Health has identified 73 confirmed cases and is currently investigating two suspect cases. There are no new locations where people may have been exposed to measles.
Here are the details of the confirmed cases:
- Age
- 1 to 10 years: 53 cases
- 11 to 18 years: 15 cases
- 19 to 29 years: one case
- 30 to 39 years: four cases
- Immunization status
- Unimmunized: 63 cases
- Unverified: seven cases
- 1 MMR vaccine: three cases
- Hospitalization: one case (none currently)
- Date of last confirmed case: Tuesday, March 13
Public Health has identified suspect cases that were unimmunized when exposed to measles and received the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine more than 72 hours after exposure. To prevent illness, one dose of MMR vaccine must be given to unimmunized people within 72 hours of exposure.
About 5 percent of previously unvaccinated people will develop a rash after being immunized. When administered after 72 hours, the vaccine is less likely to prevent illness, and if the person develops a rash, there is a small chance that the rash is due to the vaccine. People who experience these mild vaccine-associated rashes cannot transmit the virus to other people.
However, in these situations, it is difficult to determine whether the rash is a benign vaccine reaction or measles illness. Specimens for these suspect cases are sent to a specialized laboratory out of state to confirm measles, but it can take more than a week to get the results. In those cases, pending lab results, Public Health will treat the suspect cases as we would treat confirmed cases and release information about public locations the cases visited while potentially contagious with measles. Public Health will remove those locations if the cases are ruled out.
On Feb. 12, Public Health removed one previously confirmed case after additional testing revealed the case was actually experiencing benign vaccine rash. That case ? an unimmunized child 1 to 10 years old ? received one dose of measles-mumps-rubella, or MMR. Public Health also removed the exposure locations associated with this case since the vaccine virus cannot be transmitted to others.
To date, the majority of lab results of confirmed cases have matched a wild strain of virus circulating in Eastern Europe. The others were vaccine strain, which were identified as described above.
Public Health is not providing any additional information about the three cases with one dose of MMR in order to protect the patients? privacy.
?The measles vaccine isn?t perfect, but one dose is 93 percent effective at preventing illness,? said Dr. Alan Melnick, Clark County health officer and Public Health director. ?The recommended two doses of the measles vaccine provide even greater protection ? 97 percent.?
Clark County Public Health is urging anyone who has been exposed and believes they have symptoms of measles to call their health care provider prior to visiting the medical office to make a plan that avoids exposing others in the waiting room. People who believe they have symptoms of measles should not go directly to medical offices, urgent care centers or emergency departments (unless experiencing a medical emergency) without calling in advance.
Anyone with questions about measles immunity or the measles vaccine should contact their primary care provider. Clark County Public Health does not provide immunizations or testing for immunity.
Public Health will update this webpage as additional information becomes available.
[h=3]Public exposure locations - new locations will be shown in red[/h] Some exposure sites have been removed from the list below because the period during which someone could have gotten measles (incubation period) has passed. The list of those locations is available in the Frequently Asked Questions section at the bottom of this webpage.
People who visited the following locations may have been exposed to measles and may be at risk of contracting the measles:
Health care facilities:
- PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center Emergency Department, 400 NE Mother Joseph Place, Vancouver
- 8:45 pm Sunday, March 3 to 1:45 am Monday, March 4.
- The Vancouver Clinic, 700 NE 87th Ave., Vancouver
- 3:30 to 9:30 pm Friday, March 1.
- 9:50 am to 1:10 pm Saturday, March 2 (timeframe for this exposure was changed 03/04/19).
- none
Other locations:
- none
For information about measles cases and outbreaks in the U.S., visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
If you're unsure of your family's immunization status, you can view, download and print your family's immunization information online at MyIR or request a copy of your immunization record from the Washington State Department of Health.
Clark County Public Health has deactivated the measles call center. Anyone with questions about measles infection or the measles vaccine should call their primary care provider or their local county health department:
- Clark County Public Health, 360.397.8182
- Multnomah County Public Health, 503.988.3406
- Washington County Public Health, 503.846.3594
- Clackamas County Public Health, 503.655.8411
The latest news release about the Clark County measles investigation is available here.
[h=5]Additional resources[/h] Measles fact sheet - English
Measles fact sheet - Spanish
Measles fact sheet - Ukraine
Measles fact sheet - Russian
Provider advisories
