Measles, Vaccines

More than 60 measles cases confirmed or suspected in NW

Measles virus. Photo: CynthiaGoldsmith/CDC
Measles virus. Photo: CynthiaGoldsmith/CDC

From Clark County Public Health

Clark County Public Health officials in Washington state reported Feb. 4th that since Jan. 1, they have identified 49 confirmed cases and nine suspect cases of measles.

Two additional cases have been identified outside of the county; one in King County, Washington and another in Multnomah County, Oregon.

Public Health has not identified any new locations where people may have been exposed to measles.

Here are the details of the confirmed cases:

Ages:

  • 1 to 10 years: 34 cases
  • 11 to 18 years: 13 cases
  • 19 to 29 years: one case
  • 30 to 39 years: one case

Immunization status:

  • Unimmunized: 42 cases
  • Unverified: six cases
  • 1 MMR vaccine: one case

Hospitalization:

  • One case (none currently)

The confirmed cases include two cases who traveled to Hawaii and another case who traveled to Bend, Ore. The confirmed cases also include two Clark County residents who moved to Georgia. The case totals do not include confirmed cases from King County and Multnomah County, Ore.

Public Health is not providing any additional information about the one case with one dose of MMR in order to protect the patient’s 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 daily as additional information becomes available.

Public exposure locations – new locations will be shown in red

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 Urgent Care – Memorial, 3400 Main St.
    • 4:30 to 7:50 pm Saturday, Jan. 19.
  • The Vancouver Clinic, 700 NE 87th Ave., Vancouver
    • 9:30 am to 1 pm Monday, Jan. 14.
  • Kaiser Cascade Park Medical Office, 12607 SE Mill Plain Blvd., Vancouver
    • 7 pm Tuesday, Jan. 15 to 2 am Wednesday, Jan. 16.
    • 12:30 to 7:30 pm Saturday, Jan. 19.
  • Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center Emergency Department, 2211 NE 139th St., Vancouver
    • 5:45 pm Sunday, Jan. 13 and 12:30 am Monday, Jan. 14.
    • 11:40 pm Monday, Jan. 14 to 5:10 am Tuesday, Jan. 15.
  • Rose Urgent Care and Family Practice, 18 NW 20th Ave., Battle Ground from 3:45 to 8 pm Monday, Jan. 14.
  • Kaiser Orchards Medical Office, 7101 NE 137th Ave., Vancouver
    • 1:55 to 6:10 pm Monday, Jan. 14.
    • 1:50 to 7:30 pm Thursday, Jan. 24.
  • The Vancouver Clinic Salmon Creek, 2525 NE 139th St., Vancouver
    • 8:15 am to noon Friday, Jan. 18.
    • ​4:30 to 9:30 pm Wednesday, Jan. 23.
  • Legacy GoHealth Urgent Care Cascade Park, 305 SE Chkalov Drive, Vancouver from 6:25 to 10:15 pm Tuesday, Jan. 22.

Randall Children’s Hospital at Legacy Emanuel in Portland has been removed from the list of potential exposure sites. Public Health learned Randall Children’s Hospital was notified in advance of the potential measles patient and was able to take prevention measures to ensure others were not exposed to the patient.

Schools and child care centers:

  • Orchards Elementary School, 11405 NE 69th St., Vancouver on Monday, Jan. 14.
  • St. Paul Christian Daycare, 1309 Franklin St., Vancouver, Wednesday, Jan. 16; Thursday, Jan. 17; Friday, Jan. 18; Wednesday, Jan. 23.
  • Minnehaha Elementary School, 2800 NE 54th St., Vancouver from 3:45 to 7:45 pm Thursday, Jan. 17. (Given the concern of overlap between the exposure period and the end of the regular school day, Public Health is requiring exclusion of students and staff without documented immunity to measles who were at the school anytime on Jan. 17.)
  • Yelena’s Daycare, 17007 NE 23rd St., Vancouver Tuesday, Jan. 22 and Wednesday, Jan. 23.

Public Health is requiring exclusion of students and staff without documented immunity to measles from only those schools identified as possible exposure sites. Students and staff excluded from those identified schools are also excluded from other schools, child care and other congregate settings. Students and staff at schools where measles exposure did not occur are not impacted by exclusions.

Other locations:

  • Portland International Airport, 7000 NE Airport Way, Portland
    • 7:30 to 11 pm Tuesday, Jan.15. More specifically, baggage claim and south end of the ticket counter (near Alaska Airlines and Starbucks).
  • Costco, 4849 NE 138th Ave., Portland
    • 5:30 to 8:40 pm Wednesday, Jan. 16.
  • Fisher Investments, 5525 NW Fisher Creek Drive, Camas
    • 6:20 am to 7 pm Monday, Jan. 14.
    • 6:20 am to 7 pm Tuesday, Jan. 15.
  • Verizon Wireless at Cascade Station, 10103 NE Cascades Parkway, Portland from 5 to 11 pm Monday, Jan. 14.
  • Dollar Tree, 7809-B Vancouver Plaza Drive, Vancouver from 6:30 to 9:10 pm Tuesday, Jan. 15.
  • Dollar Tree, 11501 NE 76th St., Vancouver from 8:10 to 10:50 pm Tuesday, Jan. 15.
  • God Will Provide Church, 7321 NE 110th St., Vancouver from 7 to 11 pm Friday, Jan. 18.
  • Vancouver Division of Children, Youth and Families, 907 Harney St., Vancouver from 12:15 to 5:15 pm Friday, Jan. 18.
  • Mountain Air Trampoline Park, 20495 Murray Road, Bend, Ore., 9:30 am to 2:30 pm Saturday, Jan. 19.
  • Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI), 1945 SE Water Ave., Portland from 2:30 to 7 pm Saturday, Jan. 19.
  • Golden Corral, 11801 NE Fourth Plain Blvd., Vancouver from 4 to 9 pm Saturday, Jan. 19.
  • New Life Mission Church, 3300 NE 172nd Place, Portland from 9:30 am to 2 pm Sunday, Jan. 20.
  • Juniper Swim and Fitness, 800 NE Sixth St., Bend, Ore., 9:30 am to 4 pm Sunday, Jan. 20.
  • Word of Grace Bible Church, 1317 NW 12th Ave., Battle Ground from 9:30 am to 2 pm, Jan. 20.
  • Trader Joe’s, 305 SE Chkalov Drive, Vancouver from 12:30 to 3:40 pm Monday, Jan. 21.
  • Dollar Tree, 305 SE Chkalov Drive, Vancouver from 1:10 to 4 pm Monday, Jan. 21.
  • Walmart Supercenter, 14505 NE Fourth Plain Blvd., Vancouver 1:30 to 5 pm Monday, Jan. 21.
  • Vancouver Women, Infant and Children (WIC) office, 5411 E. Mill Plain Blvd., Vancouver from 2:50 to 6:15 pm Wednesday, Jan. 23.
  • Tower Mall public areas (entrances, hallways), 5411 E. Mill Plain Blvd., Vancouver from 2:50 to 6:15 pm Wednesday, Jan. 23.

Additional information

For information about additional exposure sites in Oregon, linked to the confirmed case in Multnomah County, visit the Oregon Health Authority measles webpage

For information about other measles cases in Washington, visit the Washington State Department of Health measles webpage

For information about measles cases and outbreaks in the U.S., visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.

Clark County Public Health has established a call center for questions related to the investigation. Anyone who has questions about public exposures should call, 360.397.8021. The call center is open daily.

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.

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, 360.397.8021
  • Multnomah County Public Health, 503.988.3406
  • Washington County Public Health, 503.846.3594
  • Clackamas County Public Health, 503.655.8411

Clark County Council Chair Eileen Quiring declared on Friday, Jan. 18 a public health emergency in response to the measles outbreak. On Friday, Jan. 25, Gov. Jay Inslee declared a state of emergency in response to the measles outbreak in Washington.

The latest news release about the Clark County measles investigation is available here.

Additional resources

Measles fact sheet – English
Measles fact sheet – Spanish
Measles fact sheet – Ukraine
Measles fact sheet – Russian

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