Measles update: 41 cases now confirmed, 15 suspected

Minnehaha Elementary School added as place of exposure

VANCOUVER — Clark County Public Health is continuing its measles outbreak investigation. Since Jan. 1, 41 confirmed cases and 15 suspect cases have been identified. Public Health has also identified one new location where people may have been exposed to measles. Here are the details of the confirmed cases: Age

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

Immunization status

• Unverified: four cases
• Unimmunized: 37 cases
• Hospitalization: one case

The new exposure occurred during an after-school activity at Minnehaha Elementary School. However, 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 from schools, child care and other congregate settings. The exclusion will apply to those students and staff without documented immunity who were at the school anytime on the exposure date, Thursday, Jan. 17. For a complete list of exposure sites, visit the Public Health measles investigation webpage. Clark County Public Health is urging anyone who has been exposed at an identified location 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. Here is the new location where people may have been exposed to measles: School:

• Minnehaha Elementary School, 2800 NE 54th St., Vancouver from 3:45 to 7:45 p.m. Thu., 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.

Additional resources 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. 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. Anyone with questions about their measles immunity or the measles vaccine should contact their primary care provider. Clark County Public Health does not provide immunizations or testing for immunity. If you are 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. Information provided by Clark Co. WA Communications.