Last week, Clark County Public Health Director, Dr Alan Melnick said, “I don’t see this ending anytime soon”. He was of course speaking of the measles outbreak in the county.
Over the weekend, health officials reported four additional confirmed measles cases, bringing the total to 34 since January 1st.
Nine suspected cases are also under investigation. Thirty of the cases are unvaccinated and the remaining four are unverified.
Health officials listed an additional six places in Vancouver where people could have been exposed:
- Kaiser Orchards Medical Office, 7101 NE 137th Ave., Vancouver, between 1:55 and 6:10 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 14
- The Vancouver Clinic Salmon Creek, 2525 NE 139th St., Vancouver, between 8:15 a.m. and noon on Friday, Jan. 18, and between 4:30 and 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 23
- Vancouver Division of Children, Youth and Families, 907 Harney St., Vancouver, between 12:15 and 5:15 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 18.
- Golden Corral, 11801 NE Fourth Plain Blvd., Vancouver, between 4 and 9 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 19
- Vancouver Women, Infant and Children (WIC) office, 5411 E. Mill Plain Blvd., Vancouver, between 2:50 and 6:15 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 23
- Tower Mall public areas (entrances, hallways), 5411 E. Mill Plain Blvd., Vancouver, between 2:50 and 6:15 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 23
On Friday, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee declared a state of emergency. Clark County Council Chair Eileen Quiring declared on Friday, Jan. 18 a public health emergency in response to the measles outbreak.
if it was eliminated in 2000, where did this “outbreak” originate?
Measles was never eliminated and still remains the deadliest vaccine preventable disease worldwide.
Outbreaks are often sparked by either infected travelers from other parts of the world or by unvaccinated travelers returning after visiting infected areas. Measles is most certainly not eliminated in many countries.