Tag: Kaiser Permanente Northwest

Vancouver, Wash. – Public health officials in southwest Washington are investigating a confirmed case of measles in Clark County. They say the adult’s vaccination status is unverified; they recently traveled to an area experiencing a measles outbreak.

The person was reportedly at Ridgefield High School while contagious, on January 14, 15 and 16. “People who were at Ridgefield High School those days and who have not been vaccinated against measles or have not had measles in the past are at risk for getting sick,” says Clark County Public Health. No other locations have been identified as potential exposure sites.

The case follows three confirmed cases of measles in Oregon since the first of the year; two in Linn County and one in Clackamas County. A substantial outbreak of the disease is also underway in the southwestern U.S.

“Measles is a disease we should be worried about. It can be a very bad disease,” says Kaiser Permanente Pediatrician Dr. Lisa Denike, “If your children are not vaccinated, I think you should be worried. If your children are vaccinated, the risk is much, much lower that your child could become infected if they’re exposed to a person with measles.”

Initial symptoms include runny nose and fever, then a rash, fatigue and body aches. “The kids are quite miserable,” says Dr. Denike. “Risks of dehydration and secondary infections; we know the measles virus actually can suppress our immune systems. So, being infected with measles puts you at risk for contracting other illnesses.” She notes a patient can be infected and contagious as many as four days before symptoms emerge.

Dr. Denike admits measles is still rare, despite the increase in recent years. She has only seen a couple of cases in her long career. “I will never forget those kids,” she tells KXL News, “Those were some of the sickest kids I’ve ever taken care of, and that really drove home to me the reason that we need to prevent measles infections. It’s not just a rash and a runny nose for two days.” She says vaccination is still the most effective way to prevent contracting and spreading the disease.

If you think your family has been exposed, Dr. Denike says it’s important to contact your doctor, “I would suggest a virtual visit. Measles is incredibly contagious. It’s the most contagious disease there is. It can float in the air, it can be on surfaces for hours after an infected person has been in a specific location, which is why we worry when we start having these cases and we worry about exposures and tracking them.”