New locations identified where people may have been exposed
VANCOUVER — Clark County Public Health is continuing its measles outbreak investigation. Since Jan. 1, Public Health has identified 62 confirmed cases and is currently investigating one suspect case.
Public Health has identified one new location, and extended the timeframe for another location, where people may have been exposed to measles.
Here are the details of the confirmed cases:
- Age
- 1 to 10 years: 44 cases
- 11 to 18 years: 15 cases
- 19 to 29 years: one case
- 30 to 39 years: two cases
- Immunization status
- Unimmunized: 54 cases
- Unverified: six cases
- 1 MMR vaccine: two cases
- Hospitalization: one case (none currently)
Public Health is not providing any additional information about the two cases with one dose of MMR in order to protect the patients’ privacy.
Here are the new locations where people may have been exposed to measles:
Health care facility
- PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center Emergency Department, 400 NE Mother Joseph Place, Vancouver 7:45 to 11:05 p.m. Sat., Feb. 16.
School
- Pacific Middle School, 2017 NE 172nd Ave., Vancouver all day until 4:30 p.m. on Tue., Feb. 12. The school was already listed as an exposure site. This extends the exposure period into after-school activities.
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.
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.
