FRIDAY Measles Update: 42 Confirmed Cases, 7 Suspected

UPDATE – Friday 2/1/19 –  The number of confirmed cases of the Measles now stands at 42, with seven more suspected. Clark County Public Health says there are no new possible exposure sites.

UPDATE – Thursday 1/31/19 – The number of confirmed cases is now up to 41, with 15 more suspected. Clark County Public Health also says there is one new area of possible exposure:

• Minnehaha Elementary School, 2800 NE 54th St., Vancouver from 3:45 to 7:45 pm Thursday, Jan. 17. Given the concern of overlap between the exposure period and the end of the regular school day, Public Health is requiring exclusion of students and staff without documented immunity to measles who were at the school anytime on Jan. 17.

PM UPDATE – Wednesday 1/30/19 – Clark County Public Health reports 38 cases of the Measles have now been confirmed, 13 more are suspected. They’ve also added two new locations in Bend where people may have been exposed to the disease. They are:

Read previous updates below:

UPDATE – Tuesday 1/29/19 – 12:50 PM – Clark County Public Health says the number of confirmed cases has grown to 36, with 12 more suspected cases. They’ve also identified one new location where people may have been exposed to the disease:

Word of Grace Bible Church, 1317 NW 12th Ave., Battle Ground: Jan. 20 9:30 am to 2 pm

UPDATE – Tuesday 1/29/19 – The Clark County measles outbreak has crossed the ocean. Oregon Live reports two confirmed cases of measles in Hawaii were in kids who traveled to the Big Island from Washington state. Doctor Sara Park State epidemiologist for Hawaii, said Washington  public health officials told her office, the family had been exposed to measles as part of the ongoing Clark County outbreak.

Someone who may have measles visited an indoor trampoline park and fitness center in Bend January 19th and 20th, still waiting for test results to say for sure. Two unvaccinated kids from Washington came down with measles while on the Big Island in Hawaii, the family was quarantined but has since been allowed to head home. Health official are urging people to get vaccinated. 35 confirmed cases of measles in Clark County, one in Multnomah County another up in King County Washington. A Vancouver lawmaker has introduced a bill in Olympia that would ban personal exemptions for the measles vaccine.

Monday, January 28th, 2019 – Clark County Public Health is continuing its measles outbreak investigation. Since Jan. 1, 35 confirmed cases have been confirmed. There are also 11 more suspected cases. Public Health has also identified several new locations where people may have been exposed to measles:

Child care centers:

• St. Paul Christian Daycare, 1309 Franklin St., Vancouver:
  • Wednesday, Jan. 16
  • Thursday, Jan. 17
  • Friday, Jan. 18
  • Wednesday, Jan. 23
• Yelena’s Daycare, 17007 NE 23rd St., Vancouver:
  • Tuesday, Jan. 22
  • Wednesday, Jan. 23

Health care facilities:

• Kaiser Orchards Medical Office, 7101 NE 137th Ave., Vancouver from 1:50 to 7:30 pm Thursday, Jan. 24.

Other locations:

• Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, OMSI, 1945 SE Water Ave., Portland from 2:30 to 7 pm Saturday, Jan. 19.
• New Life Mission Church, 3300 NE 172nd Place, Portland from 9:30 am to 2 pm Sunday, Jan. 20.
• Trader Joes, 305 SE Chkalov Drive, Vancouver from 12:30 to 3:40 pm Monday, Jan. 21.
• Dollar Tree, 305 SE Chkalov Drive, Vancouver from 1:10 to 4 pm Monday, Jan. 21.
• Walmart Supercenter, 14505 NE Fourth Plain Blvd., Vancouver 1:30 to 5 pm Monday, Jan. 21.

Here are the details of the confirmed cases:

• Age
  • • 1 to 10 years: 25 cases
    • 11 to 18 years: nine cases
    • 19 to 29 years: one case
• Immunization status
  • • Unverified: four cases
    • Unimmunized: 31 cases
• Hospitalization: one case

Clark County, Wa- UPDATE – 1/28/19 – The Measles outbreak continues to grow, now up to 34 confirmed cases in Clark County. Including three more cases announced in Vancouver on Sunday. Harvard researcher Dr. Marc Lipsitch tells KGW, watching the disease spread like this is frustrating because there is already a cure for it. The Columbian reports this outbreak has already cost Clark County medical offices more than $100,000. Officials warn the cost could reach seven figures. Clark County Public Health has now confirmed 34 cases of the Measles, and suspect 9 more. They’ve also identified several new locations of possible exposure. They are:

Health care facilities:

• Kaiser Orchards Medical Office, 7101 NE 137th Ave., Vancouver from 1:55 to 6:10 pm Monday, Jan. 14.
• The Vancouver Clinic Salmon Creek, 2525 NE 139th St., Vancouver:
  • 8:15 am to noon Friday, Jan. 18
  • 4:30 to 9:30 pm Wednesday, Jan. 23

Other locations:

• Vancouver Division of Children, Youth and Families, 907 Harney St., Vancouver from 12:15 to 5:15 pm Friday, Jan. 18.
• Golden Corral, 11801 NE Fourth Plain Blvd., Vancouver from 4 to 9 pm Saturday, Jan. 19.
• Vancouver Women, Infant and Children (WIC) office, 5411 E. Mill Plain Blvd., Vancouver from 2:50 to 6:15 pm Wednesday, Jan. 23.
• Tower Mall public areas (entrances, hallways), 5411 E. Mill Plain Blvd., Vancouver from 2:50 to 6:15 pm Wednesday, Jan. 23.

The other big update from late Friday night: State health officials say a case of the measles has been confirmed in a resident of Multnomah County.

UPDATE – 1/25/19 6:30 PM –

State health officials say a case of the measles has been confirmed in a resident of Multnomah County.

The Oregon Health Authority said Friday the agency is working with Multnomah and other agencies to notify people of their potential exposure and help them take steps to prevent exposing others if they become ill.

The person while contagious visited Legacy GoHealth in Gresham and Fred Meyer in Wood Village Sunday and on Wednesday visited Gresham Troutdale Family Medical Center in Troutdale and the Walgreens Pharmacy in Troutdale.

No additional cases of measles have been identified in Oregon.

Clark County Public Health in Vancouver, Washington, has reported 30 confirmed cases of measles since the beginning of the year.

Anyone who has never been vaccinated is at risk of getting measles if they come into contact with someone who is contagious.

UPDATE – 1/25/19 12:00 PM –

VANCOUVER, Wash. (AP) – Health officials say the number of confirmed cases of measles in western Washington has grown to 30, with nine more cases suspected.

Clark County Public Health said Friday that 29 of the cases are in southwest Washington and one confirmed case is in King County, which is home to Seattle.

The majority of the cases involve children younger than 10.

Officials say 26 of the patients were not vaccinated against the highly contagious disease and in four cases it’s unclear whether the person was vaccinated.

Measles is a highly contagious viral illness spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It can remain in the air for up to two hours in an isolated space.

The full vaccine is 97 percent effective and provides immunity for life.

Update 1/24/19 – Two new cases of the Measles have been confirmed in Clark County. That pushes the total number of confirmed cases to 25. There are also 12 suspected cases still under investigation. There are no new exposure locations.

UPDATE – Wednesday, 1/23/19 – There are no new confirmed cases of the measles, But Clark County Public Health says they still have seven suspected cases. Since January 1st, 23 people have been confirmed with the illness. 20 of the 23 were not immunized.

–Earlier Story–

Clark County, Washington (Update 1/22/19 – 2:130pm) The number of confirmed measles cases in Clark County is now up to 23, up from 19 last week. There are also several new places where people might’ve been exposed, all in Vancouver. Including at “ORCHARDS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL” on January 14th, “THE DOLLAR TREE” on Northeast 76th the evening of January 15th, “MEMORIAL URGENT CARE” this past Saturday afternoon, “Kaiser Cascade Park Medical Office” Saturday from 12:30 pm to 7:30 pm, “Portland International Airport” baggage claim and south end ticket counter (near Alaska Airlines and Starbucks) on Tuesday the 15th from 7:30 pm to 11 pm, and the “Costco” on NE 138th Avenue January 16th from 5:30 to 8:40. Alan Melnick tells KXL’s Jacob Dean he’s not surprised to see the cases jump, he expects the number to continue to rise in the near future because it’s an evolving outbreak.

The Evergreen School District is now limiting visitors, audiences, and fans at school events to try to get ahead of the outbreak. Four schools within Evergreen Public Schools – Evergreen High School, Hearthwood, Image and Orchards Elementary Schools- have been notified as sites of potential exposure to measles. Students and staff are already required to have proof of immunization or immunity to attend school.

(Update 1/21/19 – 2pm) – Another jump in the number of measles cases in Clark county. The number is now up to 22 confirmed cases with three more suspected. There are also new locations were the public may have been exposed to the Measles. Including two schools in Battleground, and at Evergreen high school in Vancouver. See details on dates and times below. Doctors tell KGW all but one of the confirmed cases involve kids under the age of 18 who were not vaccinated. Health officials have declared the outbreak a public health emergency and urge parents to get their kids their shots.

Beginning Tuesday, people who have been identified as possibly being exposed to measles will receive an automated call from Clark County Public Health. Not everyone who may have been exposed will receive the call.

The automated call will come from the county call center (360.397.8021) at 10:30 am. People who are not reached at 10:30 am will receive a second call at 1 pm. Those who receive the calls will be asked whether they are showing symptoms of measles. The automated calls will allow Public Health to more efficiently gather information about symptoms and identify possible new cases sooner.

For a complete list of exposure sites, visit the Public Health measles investigation webpage.

Update: January 19, 2019 —

Clark County Public Health is continuing its measles outbreak investigation. Since Jan. 1, we have identified 19 confirmed cases and five suspect cases. No additional cases have been confirmed since the update Friday, Jan. 18. Two suspect cases were ruled out by lab results.

Here are the details of the confirmed cases:

• Age
  • • 1 to 10 years: 15 cases
    • 11 to 18 years: three cases
    • 19 to 29 years: one case
• Immunization status
  • • Unverified: three cases
    • Unimmunized: 16 cases
• Hospitalization: one case

Clark County Public Health is urging anyone who has been exposed at an identified location and believes they have symptoms of measles to call their health care provider prior to visiting the medical office to make a plan that avoids exposing others in the waiting room. People who believe they have symptoms of measles should not go directly to medical offices, urgent care centers or emergency departments (unless experiencing a medical emergency) without calling in advance.

Public Health has identified additional locations where people may have been exposed to measles. For a complete list of exposure sites, visit the Public Health measles investigation webpage.

Randall Children’s Hospital at Legacy Emanuel in Portland has been removed from the list of potential exposure sites. Public Health learned Randall Children’s Hospital was notified in advance of the potential measles patient and was able to take prevention measures to ensure others were not exposed to the patient.

Here are the new locations where people may have been exposed to measles:

School:

• Maple Grove School, 601B SW Eaton Blvd., Battle Ground on Tuesday, Jan. 8 and Wednesday, Jan. 9.
• River HomeLink, 601 SW Eaton Blvd., Battle Ground on Tuesday, Jan. 8 and Wednesday, Jan. 9.

Other location:

• A Children’s Dentist, 101 NW 12th Ave., Battle Ground from 1:30 to 6 pm Tuesday, Jan. 8.

Public Health is requiring exclusion of students and staff without documented immunity to measles from only those schools identified as possible exposure sites. Students and staff excluded from those identified schools are also excluded from other schools, child care and other congregate settings. Students and staff at schools where measles exposure did not occur are not impacted by exclusions.

Public Health has established a call center for questions related to the investigation. Anyone who has questions about public exposures should call 360.397.8021. The call center is open daily.

If you are unsure of your family’s immunization status, you can view, download and print your family’s immunization information online at MyIR or request a copy of your immunization record from the Washington State Department of Health.

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

======= End of Update ======

Update: January 17, 2019 — Clark County Public Health Officials announcing Thursday there are now 16 confirmed cases and five suspected cases, all among children.

Two more schools have been added to the list of possible exposure sites:

• Tukes Valley Primary School, 20601 NE 167th Ave., Battle Ground on Tuesday, Jan. 8.
• Tukes Valley Middle School, 20601 NE 167th Ave., Battle Ground on Tuesday, Jan. 8

And two more medical facilities also added to the list of possible exposure sites:

• Rose Urgent Care and Family Practice, 18 NW 20th Ave., Battle Ground from 3:45 to 8 pm Monday, Jan. 14.
• Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center Emergency Department, 2211 NE 139th St., Vancouver from 11:40 pm Monday, Jan. 14 to 5:10 am Tuesday, Jan. 15

At this time, it’s unclear whether these cases are connected. This is an ongoing outbreak investigation. Public Health will provide updates as additional information becomes available. Public Health has created a webpage dedicated to the measles investigation that contains the latest information, as well as answers to frequently asked questions.

Previous information is listed below.

—————————————————————————-

Vancouver, Wash. —  Clark County Public Health Officials announcing Wednesday there are 14 confirmed cases of measles and 3 suspected cases reported in the county.

The 14 confirmed cases are all children.  12 are children under the age of 10, 2 are between 11 and 18 years old.

13 of the confirmed cases are also children who are unimmunized.

The patents visited locations all over the Portland and Vancouver area including 5 schools.

The following is a list of locations and dates where people may have been exposed.

Health care facilities:

• Magnolia Family Clinic, 2207 NE Broadway, Suite 200, Portland from 11:30 am to 3 pm Tuesday, Jan. 8.
• The Vancouver Clinic, 700 NE 87th Ave., Vancouver
  • • 3:30 to 7 pm Friday, Jan. 11.
    • 10:45 am to 1:30 pm Saturday Jan. 12.
    • 4:30 to 7:30 pm Sunday, Jan. 13.
    • 9:30 am to 1 pm Monday, Jan. 14.
• Kaiser Cascade Park, 12607 SE Mill Plain Blvd., Vancouver from 1 to 8:30 pm Saturday, Jan. 12.
• Randall Children’s Hospital at Legacy Emanuel Emergency Department, 2801 N Gantenbein Ave., Portland from 11:30 am to 2 pm Saturday, Jan. 12.
• PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center Emergency Department, 400 NE Mother Joseph Pl., Vancouver
  • • 10 pm Saturday, Jan. 12 to 4 am Sunday, Jan. 13.
    • 12:30 to 8:30 pm Sunday, Jan. 13.
• Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center, 2211 NE 139th St., Vancouver
  • • 8:30 pm Saturday, Jan. 12 to 1 am Sunday, Jan. 13.
    • 5:45 pm Sunday, Jan. 13 and 12:30 am Monday, Jan. 14.

Schools:

• Cornerstone Christian Academy, 10818 NE 117th Ave., Vancouver on Friday, Jan. 4
• Vancouver Home Connection, 301 S. Lieser Road, Vancouver on Monday, Jan. 7; Tuesday, Jan. 8; and Friday, Jan. 11.
• Hearthwood Elementary School, 801 NE Hearthwood Blvd., Vancouver on Monday, Jan. 7; Tuesday, Jan. 8; and Wednesday, Jan. 9.
• Image Elementary School, 4400 NE 122nd Ave., Vancouver on Tuesday, Jan. 8 and Wednesday, Jan. 9.
• Eisenhower Elementary School, 9201 NW Ninth Ave., Vancouver on Tuesday, Jan. 8 and Wednesday, Jan. 9.

Public Health is requiring exclusion of students and staff without documented immunity to measles from schools, child care and other congregate settings.

Other locations:

• Church of Christ Savior, 3612 F St., Vancouver from 9:30 am to noon Sunday, Jan. 6 and 6 to 11:30 pm Sunday, Jan. 6.
• Church of Truth, 7250 NE 41st St., Vancouver from 11 am to 4:30 pm Sunday, Jan. 6.
• Portland International Airport, 7000 NE Airport Way, Portland from 10:45 am to 3:45 pm on Monday, Jan. 7. More specifically, anyone who spent time in Concourse D and the Delta Sky Lounge during that time period.
• Costco, 4849 NE 138th Ave., Portland from 1 to 5:30 pm Tuesday, Jan. 8.
• Amazon Lockers, 1131 SW Jefferson St., Portland from 3:30 pm to 7 pm Thursday, Jan. 10.
• Rejuvenation, 1100 SE Grand Ave., Portland from 3:30 to 7:30 pm Thursday, Jan. 10.
• Pho Green Papaya, 13215 SE Mill Plain Blvd., Vancouver from 7:30 to 10:30 pm Thursday, Jan. 10.
• Chuck’s Produce, 13215 SE Mill Plain Blvd., Vancouver from 8 to 11:45 pm Thursday, Jan. 10 and 2:30 to 5:30 pm Friday, Jan. 11.
• IKEA, 10280 NE Cascades Parkway, Portland from 4:30 to 8:30 pm Friday, Jan. 11.

Public Health has established a call center for questions related to the investigation. Anyone who has questions about public exposures should call, 360.397.8021. The call center hours are 9 am to 5 pm daily, including weekends.

At this time, it’s unclear whether these cases are connected. This is an ongoing outbreak investigation. Public Health will provide updates as additional information becomes available. Public Health has created a webpage dedicated to the measles investigation that contains the latest information, as well as answers to frequently asked questions.

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