Vancouver, WA-A Clark County man has been diagnosed with probable measles. He recently returned from overseas and reported exposure to a laboratory-confirmed case of measles while abroad. Public health officials are urging people who may have been exposed to review their immunization status and, if necessary, get immunized. "Measles is highly contagious," said Dr. Alan Melnick, Clark County Health Officer. "People who are not already immune to measles are at significant risk if they were in the same room with this man since June 22."

The patient is known to have visited Kaiser Permanente medical offices in Vancouver and Portland on three occasions during the past week. Public health officials are trying to protect people who may have been exposed at these medical offices. People who were at the Kaiser Permanente Salmon Creek facility or the facility at Kaiser Permanente East Interstate during the times listed below should:
· Confirm whether or not they are already immune to measles.
· Receive measles vaccination within 3 days of their exposure.
· If it has been more than 3 days since the time of exposure, people should watch for symptoms and should call their health provider if symptoms develop.
· Pregnant women, infants age one or younger, and severely immunocompromised people can still receive immune globulin up to 6 days after exposure to help prevent illness.

The dates and times of concern are:

· Thursday, June 22 - Kaiser Permanente Salmon Creek (Vancouver) facility, from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
· Saturday, June 24 - Kaiser Permanente East Interstate Emergicenter(Portland) facility, from 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
· Monday, June 26 - Kaiser Permanente East Interstate Emergicenter (Portland) facility, from 9 a.m. to noon.

Additionally, the man visited two Clark County businesses. The business addresses and dates and times of concern are:

· Oscar's, 4901 NE St. John's Road, June 22, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
· Walgreen’s, 3200 NE 52nd St. , June 22, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Persons who were at these businesses at these times should take the same precautions noted above.

In general, persons can be considered immune if they:
· were born in 1956 or earlier;
· have documentation of 2 measles or MMR vaccinations;
· have a history of physician-diagnosed measles; or
· have laboratory test results showing the presence of measles antibodies.

Kaiser Permanente members should call their primary care provider to check their vaccination status. If they don’t have a primary care provider, they can contact the advice nurse at (800) 813-2000 in Clark County, or (503) 813-2000 in Portland. Kaiser Permanente members can obtain measles vaccinations at most Kaiser Permanente facilities on a walk-in basis.

Exposed people who are not Kaiser Permanente members should contact their regular physician or their local health department for information. "Don't delay," Melnick urged. "Those who may have been exposed on June 26 must be immunized by June 29 for the shot to have time to kick in. If you were exposed on Monday, you only have a couple of days." People exposed June 22 or later who are pregnant, immunocompromised, or less than one year old should receive immune globulin rather than vaccine. Telephone numbers for local health jurisdictions include:
· Clark County - (360) 397-8206
· Multnomah County - (503) 988-3816
· Clackamas County - (503) 655-8411
· Washington County - (503) 846-3594
· Cowlitz County - (360) 414-5595

If you may have been exposed and you develop any of the early symptoms of measles, contact your physician or local health department for advice immediately. It takes 7 to 18 days from exposure before symptoms begin. "Do not go to your physician's office or a hospital emergency room without calling first," Melnick stated. "To prevent exposing other people, patients with possible measles must be properly isolated, and calling ahead gives people a chance to make the necessary arrangements."

Information about measles

Measles usually begins with a fever, red, watery eyes, runny nose, and cough, followed within a few days by a red, blotchy rash. The disease can be more severe in infants and adults.

Measles is one of the most highly communicable infectious diseases. Measles viruses become suspended in the air when infected persons cough, sneeze, or even talk, and can be inhaled by others sharing the same air space-even up to 2 hours later. Infected people begin to spread the virus around 4 days before rash onset and up to 4 days after. The incubation period (from exposure to onset of symptoms) of measles varies but is typically around 7 to 18 days-around 14 days to the onset of rash.