A Clallam County resident with measles visited several public areas in Clallam and King Counties while contagious between Monday, Jan. 26, 2015 and Friday, Jan. 30, 2015. Most people in these areas are immune to measles, so public risk of contracting measles is low except for people who are not vaccinated or are not old enough to have been exposed to measles as a child. People who haven’t been vaccinated or aren’t sure if they’re immune should ask a health care professional for assistance in determining whether they are at risk of contracting measles.
Measles is highly contagious and can cause severe illness with rash, fever, cough, eye irritation, and can be fatal in rare instances. Transmission can occur before the person with measles becomes ill and develops a rash. Close contacts of the Clallam County measles case have been notified of their exposure and have been evaluated for immunity.
Anyone who was in one of the following locations during the indicated times may have been exposed tomeasles:
King County
• 1/29/15
o 11 a.m.-1:10 p.m., SeaTac Rest Area (I5 Northbound), Federal Way
o 11:25 a.m.-1:35 p.m., Owen Equipment Company, 8721 S 218th St, Kent
o 11:45 a.m.-1:50 p.m., Bent Bike Motorcycle Salvage, 4337 Auburn Way North, Auburn
o 11:58 a.m.-2:15 p.m. at Arby’s , 140 15th Street Ne, Auburn
Clallam County
• 1/27/15
o 3:30 p.m.-5:45 p.m. at Wendy’s, 1830 East 1st Street, Port Angeles
o 4:45 p.m.-6:55 p.m. at Mt Pleasant IGS & Texaco Gas Station, 3010 E Hwy 101 Port Angeles
• 1/29/15
o 9:01 a.m.-11:15 a.m. at Jamestown Longhouse Gas Station and Convenience Store, 271020 Highway 101, Sequim
o 3:19 p.m.-5:30 p.m. at Mt Pleasant IGS & Texaco Gas Station, 3010 E Hwy 101 Port Angeles
• 1/30/15
o 11:13 a.m.-1:23 p.m. at Mt Pleasant IGS & Texaco Gas Station, 3010 E Hwy 101 Port Angeles
Anyone who was in any of these locations at the listed times should find out if they have been vaccinated for measles or have had measles previously. Everyone born before 1957 is presumed to have had measles and is immune. People who are unvaccinated, aren’t sure if they’re immune, and develop an illness with fever or unexplained rash should consult a health care professional immediately. It is very important for them to call ahead to their clinic, doctor’s office, or emergency room before arriving to prevent people in the waiting room to be exposed to measles. Measles vaccine given greater than 72 hours after exposure is not effective in preventing measles in someone who has been infected.
Measles is highly contagious even before the rash starts, and is easily spread when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes. If you’re not vaccinated, you can get the measles just by walking into a room where someone with the disease has been in the past couple of hours.
Children should be vaccinated with two doses of measles, mumps, rubella vaccine, with the first dose between 12 and 15 months and the second at four-to-six years. Adults should have at least one measles vaccination; some people need two. The state Department of Health immunization program has online information about measles and measles vaccine at: www.doh.wa.gov/YouandYourFamily/IllnessandDisease/Measles/FrequentlyAskedQuestions
