NewsDesk @bactiman63

Public Health – Seattle & King County is investigating a confirmed measles case in a King County child. The individual was at Aki Kurose Middle School, Pike Place Market, World Market, and HopeCentral Pediatrics & Behavioral Health in Seattle while infectious. Vaccination status of the individual is unknown, and the source of the infection in unknown. The individual has not traveled internationally.

The infected individual was at the following public locations before being diagnosed with measles. These times include the period when the individual was at the location and two hours after. Measles virus can remain in the air for up to two hours after someone infectious with measles leaves the area. Anyone who was at the following locations during the times listed could have been exposed to measles:

DATE TIME LOCATION
5/11/23 12:00 p.m. – 5:45 p.m. Aki Kurose Middle School
3928 S Graham Street, Seattle, WA 98118
5/12/23 8:45 a.m. – 5:45 p.m. Aki Kurose Middle School
3928 S Graham Street, Seattle, WA 98118
5/13/23 3:45 p.m. – 6:45 p.m. Pike Place Market
85 Pike Street, Seattle, WA 98101
5/13/23 4:15 p.m. – 6:45 p.m. World Market
2103 Western Ave, Seattle, WA 98121
5/15/23 2:00 p.m. – 5:45 p.m. HopeCentral Pediatrics & Behavioral Health
3826 S Othello Street, Seattle, WA 98118
Image/CDC

“Measles is highly contagious. If you don’t have immunity, you can get measles just by being in a room where a person with measles has been,” said Elysia Gonzales, Medical Epidemiologist for Public Health – Seattle & King County. “The best protection against measles is to get vaccinated. Two doses of measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine provides about 97% protection against getting infected by measles and that protection lasts a lifetime.”

How contagious is measles? Answer: Very

What to do if you were in a location of potential measles exposure

Most people in our area have immunity to measles through vaccination, so the risk to the general public is low. However, anyone who was in the locations of potential exposure to measles around the times listed should:

  • Find out if you have been vaccinated for measles or have had measles previously. Make sure you are up-to-date with the recommended number of measles (MMR) vaccinations.
  • Call a healthcare provider promptly if you develop an illness with fever or with an unexplained rash. To avoid possibly spreading measles to others, do not go to a clinic or hospital without calling first to tell them you want to be evaluated for measles.

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You can get vaccination or medication after exposure in some cases to prevent illness – check with your healthcare provider. This is especially important for people at high risk for measles complications.

If you were at the locations at the times listed above and are not immune to measles, the most likely time you would become sick would be between 5/18/2023 – 6/5/2023.