Measles identified in Aberdeen resident

An Aberdeen resident has been diagnosed with measles, once common, but rare these days, Grays Harbor County health officials say.

“This is the first confirmed case of measles identified in Grays Harbor since I started working here in 1990,” said Karolyn Holden, the county’s Public Health Services Manager. “We are taking it very seriously and will do everything possible to prevent the spread of disease.”

Measles is a contagious disease that is caused by a virus. The patient, who is recovering at home, became ill in late December after traveling to Disney theme parks in California earlier that month, health officials said. To date, at least 10 cases of measles have been identified among people who visited the Disneyland and/or Disney California Adventure theme parks during December 17 and 18 – 7 in California, 2 in Utah, and now one in Washington.

The patient was diagnosed at Summit Pacific Medical Center in Elma. Summit Pacific is working closely with Public Health to identify and contact anyone who may have been exposed so that measures can be taken to prevent more infections. “We are very proud of our staff for the quick response and organized effort they took in responding to this case.” Renee Jensen, CEO for SPMC shared, “We feel confident that our staff responded in a way that most effectively reduced the risk of further exposure to other patients, our staff, and the public.”

Measles infection can cause serious illness with potentially severe complications. Before the development of measles vaccine it was a common childhood infection. Most adults who were born prior to 1957 had the disease and are immune. Today, children are protected against measles by vaccination, which is offered routinely at the age of 12 months with a booster dose at school entry.

Anyone who is not fully vaccinated against measles or who hasn’t had measles disease is at risk for getting the disease if they are exposed to the virus. Infants under 12 months are at risk because they are too young to get the vaccine.

Measles spreads easily when people cough or sneeze and spray droplets of the measles virus into the air, which others breathe in. These droplets can remain in the air for several hours after an infected person leaves a room. Symptoms of measles include fever, runny nose, cough, red, watery eyes, and rash and usually appear about 10 days after exposure.

Public Health will be contacting every person who is known to have been present at Summit Pacific during the times of concern; details are available on Grays Harbor Public Health’s website – www.HealthyGH.org.

If you aren’t sure about your immunity to measles, consult your health care provider or public health to see if vaccination might be recommended. If you think you or someone in your family has the measles, contact your health care provider or public health right away.