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Oregon Health Authority and county public health officials are investigating a case of measles in an individual who recently returned to the state following international travel. The individual is not vaccinated against measles.

A commercial laboratory confirmed the measles case June 23. The affected individual is an adult who developed measles symptoms—sore throat, weakness, fatigue, headache and fever—on June 16.

The individual was hospitalized in the Portland metro area with a rash and conjunctivitis June 19 and was discharged June 21. County public health officials and hospital staff believe no patients were exposed. The person is recovering.

Health officials believe the individual acquired the disease while traveling abroad the last four to five weeks. This case is not believed to be connected to measles outbreaks in other U.S. states.

"We're here to tell you that measles is now in Oregon, and if you’re not vaccinated, you are susceptible,” said Paul R. Cieslak, M.D., medical director for communicable diseases and immunizations at OHA’s Public Health Division.

“You could get measles if you're exposed to someone who is contagious, which can be from four days before their rash starts until four days after. After exposure, it can take up to three weeks before you show the characteristic measles rash. So, someone could not even know they have measles and be transmitting it for several days. That’s why it’s extremely important that all adults and children in their household be up to date on vaccinations.”

People might have been exposed if they were in any of these areas during these times:

Flight UA1832/SN8869 (Brussels Air Operated by United Airlines) on Tuesday, June 17 (economy cabin); departed Chicago O’Hare International Airport at 4:01 p.m. CDT, arrived at Portland International Airport at 6:29 p.m. PDT.
Portland International Airport arrivals and baggage claim between 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 17.
Safeway, located at 401 A Ave., Lake Oswego, in Clackamas County, between 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., on Sunday, June 22

How measles spreads and symptoms

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

Measles typically starts with a fever, cough, runny nose and red eyes. A rash usually follows, beginning on the face and spreading to the rest of the body. Symptoms begin seven to 21 days after exposure to a person with measles. Common complications of measles include ear infection, lung infection and diarrhea. Swelling of the brain is a rare but much more serious complication. In developed countries in recent years, one or two out of every 1,000 measles cases have been fatal.

Determining your risk of measles

Most people in Oregon have been vaccinated to prevent measles, usually as children. Anyone who received a measles vaccination at any time in their life has a very low risk of getting measles. But the disease is highly contagious, and the risk is high for anyone who has not received measles vaccination and has been exposed to the disease.

Measles poses the highest risk to:

Unvaccinated pregnant people.
Infants younger than 1 year old.
People with weakened immune systems.

You are considered immune to measles if any of the following apply:

You were born before 1957.
You’ve been diagnosed with measles at any point in your life.
A blood test proves that you are immune.
You have had two doses of measles vaccine.

Traveling internationally

Individuals traveling to places known to have measles should get vaccinated in advance. It is also important to vaccinate infants 6-12 months old who are planning to travel internationally to places where measles is common.

What to do if you suspect measles in your household

Public health officials urge people experiencing symptoms of measles not to arrive unannounced at a medical office if they:

Have a measles-like rash (see CDC link here for an example: https://www.cdc.gov/measles/signs-symptoms/photos.html).
Have been exposed to measles within the previous 21 days, AND have any other symptom of measles (such as fever, cough or red eyes).

Individuals planning to seek medical care should first call a health care provider or urgent care center by telephone to create an entry plan to avoid exposing others in waiting rooms.

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Mel Taylor