Multnomah County has its first measles case

Multnomah County public health officials are investigating one case of measles in an unvaccinated young child with recent travel to an area with measles activity.

The news broke Tuesday, July 16.

The child and the child’s family recently spent time abroad in a country where measles is more common, county officials said.

Public health officials believe “there is little risk to the public at this time. Most Oregonians have been vaccinated against measles and their risk is low,” according to the release .

The family is cooperating with public health officials who are working to protect the health of both the family and the public, the county said. Additional cases among unvaccinated individuals within the child’s household are expected.

However, “officials are optimistic that community spread will not occur from this case,” the release reads.

The child did receive care in a health care setting — the county did not say if it was a hospital, clinic or some other sort of setting — while infectious. “For any potential health care exposures, the health system will contact people directly.”

Since the vector was overseas travel, this case is unrelated to ongoing measles outbreaks elsewhere in Oregon, the county said.

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

Most Oregonians have been vaccinated to prevent measles, usually as children. Anyone who has received a measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, known as the MMR vaccine, at any time in their life has a low risk of getting measles. Risk is much higher for anyone who has not received an MMR vaccine and may have been exposed to the disease.

Measles poses the highest risk to unvaccinated pregnant people; infants younger than 1 year old; and people with weakened immune systems.