Three new exposure sites identified
VANCOUVER — Clark County Public Health is continuing its measles outbreak investigation. Since Jan. 1, 22 confirmed cases and three suspect cases have been identified.
Here are the details of the confirmed cases:
Age
- 1 to 10 years: 17 cases
- 19 to 29 years: one case
- 11 to 18 years: four cases
Immunization status
- Unverified: three cases
- Unimmunized: 19 cases
- Hospitalization: one case
Beginning Tuesday, people who have been identified as possibly being exposed to measles will receive an automated call from Clark County Public Health. Not everyone who may have been exposed will receive the call.
The automated call will come from the county call center (360) 397-8021 at 10:30 a.m. People who are not reached at 10:30 a.m. will receive a second call at 1 p.m. Those who receive the calls will be asked whether they are showing symptoms of measles. The automated calls will allow Public Health to more efficiently gather information about symptoms and identify possible new cases sooner.
Public Health has identified three additional locations where people may have been exposed to measles. For a complete list of exposure sites, visit the Public Health measles investigation webpage.
Here are the new locations where people may have been exposed to measles:
Health care facilities
- Memorial Urgent Care, 3400 Main St., Vancouver from 4:30 to 7:50 p.m. Sat., Jan. 19.
Schools
- Orchards Elementary School, 11405 NE 69th St., Vancouver on Mon., Jan. 14.
Other locations:
- Dollar Tree, 11501 NE 76th St., Vancouver from 8:10 to 10:50 p.m. Tue., Jan. 15.
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.
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.
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 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.
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
Information courtesy of Clark Co. WA Communications.
