The exact location of the initial exposure is unknown, which has led Oregon health officials to suggest there could be more, unreported cases.
PORTLAND, Ore. — Two cases of measles in separate people in the same Clackamas County household have been confirmed by state and county health officials, and the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) suggests there may be more, unreported cases in the state.
The two people confirmed to have measles — one adult and one child — were both unvaccinated. The adult developed a rash on June 11, was confirmed to have measles on June 14, and the child developed symptoms a few days later. The time range and location for their exposure is believed to have been from May 19 to June 4 in Marion County. Because the exact location of the exposure is unknown, OHA said there may be other unreported measles cases in the state.
Both people are currently recovering.
Health officials have reported two areas, both Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) facilities, and time frames for when people may have been exposed:
- OHSU Immediate Care Richmond Clinic, located on Southeast Division Street in Portland, between 4:40 p.m. and 5:40 p.m. Wednesday, June 12.
- OHSU Hospital Emergency Department, located on Southwest Sam Jackson Park Road in Portland, between 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 12, and 7:15 p.m. Friday, June 14.
Health officials said risk of exposure at the OHSU emergency department is believed to be low because the patient wore a mask and airborne precautions were implemented promptly.
“Spreading measles from one person to another is pretty easy, as it’s a highly infectious disease,” said Paul R. Cieslak, M.D., medical director for communicable diseases and immunizations at OHA’s Public Health Division. “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.”
These appear to be the first two confirmed cases of measles in Oregon this year. As of June 13, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had reported zero cases in the state. There are 151 confirmed cases of measles nationwide.
R&I – Obey
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