The Clark County measles outbreak continues to worsen.
Today Public Health announced two more confirmed cases, for a total of 16 since Jan. 1. All the cases are among children, and five more are suspected.
In addition to the list released yesterday, today's announcement also came with more locations and times of when and where one could have been exposed, including three Battle Ground locations:
Health care facilities
• Rose Urgent Care and Family Practice, 18 NW 20th Ave., Battle Ground
3:45 to 8 pm Monday, Jan. 14.
• Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center Emergency Department, 2211 NE 139th St., Vancouver
11:40 pm Monday, Jan. 14 to 5:10 am Tuesday, Jan. 15.
Schools
• Tukes Valley Primary School, 20601 NE 167th Ave., Battle Ground
Tuesday, Jan. 8.
• Tukes Valley Middle School, 20601 NE 167th Ave., Battle Ground
Tuesday, Jan. 8
Below are the newest details provided by Public Health regarding the confirmed cases:
Age
• 1 to 10 years: 13 cases
• 11 to 18 years: three cases
Immunization status
• Unverified: two cases
• Unimmunized: 14 cases
• Hospitalization: one case (one suspected case has also been hospitalized)
Those who may be exposed and believe they have measles symptoms are asked to contact their healthcare provider prior to visiting their offices to avoid more exposure.
Public Health is requiring the exclusion of students and staff without documented immunity to measles from schools identified as possible exposure sites. Students and staff at schools where measles exposure did not occur are not impacted by exclusions, today's news release states.
Those with the disease are contagious for four days before the rash appears and up to four days after the rash appears, according to Public Health. The department noted that children younger than 5 and adults older than 20 were most likely to suffer complications including lung and ear infections, diarrhea and in rare cases swelling of the brain.
Public health did note some likely immune groups, such as those born before 1957, those who are certain they have already had the disease and those up-to-date on vaccines — one dose for children up to four years old and two doses for those four and older.
Public Health has established a call center for questions about the investigation: 360-397-8021. Hours are 9 am to 5 pm daily, including weekends. There is also a website: clark.wa.gov/public-health/measles-investigation.
Anyone with questions about measles infection or the measles vaccine should call their primary care provider or their local county health department:
Clark County Public Health, 360-397-8021
Multnomah County Public Health, 503-988-3406
Washington County Public Health, 503-846-3594
Clackamas County Public Health, 503-655-8411
