Whatcom Co., WA: Measles alert

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.kirotv.com/news/17443328/detail.html

Measles Case Identified In Whatcom County

POSTED: 5:20 pm PDT September 10, 2008

WHATCOM COUNTY, Wash. -- A 49-year-old Whatcom County resident has been diagnosed with the measles and people without immunity to measles may have been exposed, said Whatcom County Health Officer Dr. Greg Stern.

People who were at the Northwest Regional Laboratory at the Barkley Medical Center at the time the patient was there and within two hours after she left may have been exposed, Stern said.

The dates and times of potential exposure were:
Wednesday, September 3, 7:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
Friday, September 5, 12:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Saturday, September 6, noon to 2:30 p.m.

Those who may have been exposed and don?t have immunity to measles may develop the disease, Stern said.

Most of the patient's close contacts have been identified and notified. The general public is unlikely to have been exposed during the woman?s contagious period, except for the visits to the laboratory during the specified times.

Anyone with a fever and rash who was at the laboratory during the possible exposure times should contact the health department immediately at 676-6724 (daytime) and 715-2588 (after hours) and avoid contact with other people until evaluation is completed.

The Whatcom County Health Department is investigating the possible sources of her infection.

This is the first case diagnosed in Whatcom County since 1995, however there was a recent outbreak in Grant County, with 19 cases reported between April and May 2008, Stern said.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Whatcom Co., WA: Measles alert

Source: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008192350_apwawhatcommeasles.html

Whatcom County measles case wasn't measles

Whatcom County's first case of measles in 13 years wasn't measles, after all.
BELLINGHAM, Wash. ?

Whatcom County's first case of measles in 13 years wasn't measles, after all.

The county health department says testing by the Centers for Disease Control contradicted the initial positive blood tests done by the state.

A 48-year-old woman was diagnosed with the disease this month and most of her contacts were notified. The health department also notified the press, to get the word out to anyone who might have been exposed when the woman was brought to Northwest Regional Labratory.

Measles can be prevented by vaccination, and it's largely been eradicated in the United States, except among groups with low vaccination rates. Earlier this year 19 measles cases were reported in Grant County.

Symptoms include a runny nose, cough, fever and rash.