Vancouver, Wash. — Clark County Public Health is continuing its investigation into a potential case of measles in a young child. Public Health on Monday announced three locations where people may have been exposed to measles. Public Health has since identified a fourth public location of possible measles exposure.

Public Health is advising anyone who has been exposed and may have symptoms of measles to call their health care provider prior to visiting the medical office and make a plan that avoids exposing others in the waiting room.

In addition to the three locations announced Monday, people who visited the following location may have been exposed to measles:

• Public areas, including lobbies, stairwells and elevators, in the Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Office Building, 2121 NE 139th St., Vancouver, from 10:45 am to 2 pm Tuesday, July 3.

“We believe the risk of contracting measles from this exposure is incredibly low, but we want to notify those who may have been exposed and advise them to watch for symptoms,” said Dr. Alan Melnick, Clark County Public Health director and health officer.

Public Health is not aware of any additional measles cases in Clark County linked to the potential case or confirmed cases in Oregon.

About measles

Measles is a highly contagious and potentially serious illness caused by a virus. It is spread through the air after a person with measles coughs or sneezes. A person with measles can spread the virus before they show symptoms. The virus can also linger in the air after someone who is infectious has left.

After someone is exposed, illness develops in about one to three weeks.

Measles symptoms begin with a fever, cough, runny nose and red eyes, followed by a rash that usually begins at the head and spreads to the rest of the body. People are contagious with measles for four days before the rash appears and up to four days after the rash appears.

Common complications of measles include ear infection, lung infection and diarrhea. Swelling of the brain is a rare but much more serious complication. For every 1,000 children with measles, one or two will die from the disease.

Measles poses the highest risk to people who have not been vaccinated, pregnant women, infants younger than 12 months and people with weakened immune systems. Persons are likely immune (not susceptible) to measles if any of the following apply:

1. They were born before 1957.
2. They are certain they have had measles.
3. They are up to date on measles vaccines (one dose for children 12 months through 3 years old, two doses for anyone 4 years and older).

Anyone with questions about measles infection or the measles vaccine should call their primary care provider or Clark County Public Health at 564.397.8182.

Learn More

Washington State Department of Health: www.doh.wa.gov/YouandYourFamily/IllnessandDisease/Measles

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: www.cdc.gov/measles