Health authority issues measles advisory

The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and county public health officials are investigating two cases of measles in a single Clackamas County household.

One household member, an unvaccinated adult, was confirmed to have measles Friday, June 14. The individual developed a rash June 11. While the time range of the exposure is believed to be between May 19 and June 4, the specific location of the exposure, which occurred in Marion County, is unknown, suggesting there may be other, unreported measles cases in Oregon, according to the OHA.

The second household member, an unvaccinated child, developed symptoms a few days later. Both individuals are recovering.

“Spreading measles from one person to another is pretty easy, as it’s a highly infectious disease,” said Paul R. Cieslak, OHA public health division medical director for communicable diseases and immunizations. “That’s why it’s extremely important that all adults and children in their household be up to date on vaccinations. Adults of any age born during or after 1957 can still be vaccinated.”

How measles spreads and symptoms

• Measles spreads through the air after a person with measles coughs or sneezes. People are contagious with measles for four days before a rash appears and up to four days afterward. The virus particles can also linger in the air for up to two hours after someone who is infectious has left the area.

• Measles typically starts with a fever, cough, runny nose and red eyes. A rash usually follows, beginning on the face and spreading to the rest of the body. Symptoms begin seven to 21 days after exposure to a person with measles. Common complications of measles include ear infection, lung infection and diarrhea. Swelling of the brain is a rare, but much more serious complication. In developed countries in recent years, one or two out of every 1,000 measles cases has been fatal.

Public health officials urge people experiencing symptoms of measles not to arrive unannounced at a medical office if they have a measles-like rash or have been exposed to measles within the previous 21 days and have any other symptom of measles, such as fever, cough or red eyes.

Individuals planning to seek medical care should first call a health care provider or urgent care center by telephone to create an entry plan to avoid exposing others in waiting rooms.