Public Health reports one case of imported measles

KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON - Public Health - Seattle & King County is announcing one confirmed case of measles in an adult traveler who acquired the disease abroad. The infected person visited public areas in King County while contagious and may have exposed other persons to the disease. Also known as rubeola, measles is a potentially severe disease caused by the measles virus.

“We live in a global village where infectious diseases can rapidly spread from distant parts of the globe to our doorstep in a matter of hours,” said Dorothy Teeter, Interim Director and Health Officer for Public Health - Seattle & King County. “This instance shows why immunizations are critically important in protecting the health of our community.”

Measles spreads easily among susceptible persons and can result in serious infections complicated by pneumonia, encephalitis, seizures, and death. Most King County residents born before 1957 had the disease in childhood and younger persons are routinely vaccinated against measles, both of which provide protection against the disease.

“If you aren’t immune to the measles and were in a location where the infected person was while contagious, it’s important that you contact your health care provider,” said Dr. Jeff Duchin, Chief of Public Health’s Communicable Disease Section.

Specific locations and times where persons may have been exposed to measles in King County are available on Public Health’s website (www.metrokc.gov/health/measles2005.htm) and our telephone hotline (206-296-4949) and will be updated as new information becomes available. At this time, possible measles exposure sites include:

1.	Malay Satay Hut, 15230 NE 24th St., Redmond, WA 98052 on August 16th 2005, from 12-3 p.m.
2.	Thai Ginger at Redmond Town Center, 16480 NE 74th Street on August 20th from 8-11 p.m.
3.	Microsoft -- Redmond Campus, One Microsoft Way, Building #40, Redmond, WA on August 16, 17, 18 and 19, all day
4.	Microsoft -- Cafeteria, One Microsoft Way, between Building #40 and #41, Redmond, WA on August 17, 18 and 19, 11:30 am to 4:00 pm.

What the public needs to do

Find out if you are at risk for measles. Persons who either have had measles or who have been adequately immunized against measles are protected from measles infection. A blood test can show whether you are immune to (protected against) measles. If you are immune to measles, there is nothing else you need to do at this time.
- You are considered immune to measles if:
  - You were born before 1957: Most persons born before 1957 had measles as children.
  - If you were born on or after January 1, 1957 and have documentation of having had at least one dose of measles-containing vaccine received since 1968 and given on or after the first birthday (Measles vaccines used prior to 1968 did not always provide reliable immunity to measles).
  - A blood test for measles antibody is positive
- If you do not have documentation of your measles vaccination history or if you have had measles, Public Health recommends a blood test to tell you if you are immune or not. Your health care professional can arrange this.
For persons exposed to measles who have not been vaccinated and have not had measles previously OR if your blood test shows that you do not have measles immunity:
- Check the web site above. If you were in a location where a person with measles was at the specific dates and times listed, Public Health recommends that you receive a dose of measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine: Contact your health care professional.
- All persons who were in one of the measles exposure locations at the specified times or who had contact with someone with measles should monitor their health for 21 days. If fever or rash develops, call your health care provider and tell them about your symptoms and the exposure. Stay away from other persons and from public settings until you have been evaluated by a health care professional. Always call before arriving at a health care facility for evaluation of possible measles.
- A minority of people who receive MMR vaccine develop fever and/or rash after immunization. Five to 15% of people may develop fever, usually 7-12 days after vaccination and lasting 1-2 days. Unlike people with measles who feel ill, most persons with fever after measles vaccine are otherwise well. Rash is reported in approximately 5% of people after MMR vaccination and usually appears 7-10 days after vaccination. People with fever and/or rash after MMR vaccination are not contagious to others. It is still important to let your health care professional know if you develop fever and/or rash during the time you are monitoring your health after a measles exposure, even if you get vaccinated.
When people are immunized against measles today, they are given combined measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. Children born since the early 1990's receive two doses of MMR. The first dose is given at 12 to 15 months of age. The second dose may be given one month after the first dose or at entry into school or child care.
MMR vaccinations are available at most health care providers' offices and at Public Health clinics.
Children under one year of age, pregnant women, and persons with weakened immune systems are at high risk for severe measles and complications. These people should contact their healthcare professional if they may have been exposed to measles.

What Public Health is doing

In response to measles cases, Public Health conducts the following activities:

Assures people with measles do not expose other members of the public

Monitors for measles symptoms among close contacts of people with measles

Identifies people exposed to measles, determine if they are immune to measles, and offers vaccination or preventive treatment to susceptible people as appropriate.

Assures prompt identification and appropriate testing and treatment of new cases by increasing awareness among the public, health care providers, and laboratories of the presence of measles in our community.

What is measles?

Measles is a highly infectious and usually severe illness that causes fever, rash, cough, and red, watery eyes. The rash begins on the face and spreads to the rest of the body. Fever (often greater than 101° F), cough and other symptoms begin two to four days before the rash appears.

Measles symptoms begin eight to 21 days after the exposure to measles occurred. Measles is contagious from approximately four days before the rash appears through four days after the rash appears. People can spread measles before they have the characteristic measles rash.

Other names for measles include 10-day measles, hard measles and red measles. The term for measles in Spanish is “sarampion.”

For more information, read Public Health’s measles fact sheet: www.metrokc.gov/health/prevcont/measles.htm

For immunizations, contact your provider or visit a Public Health immunization clinic: www.metrokc.gov/health/immunization/clinics.htm

Public Health – Seattle & King County is among the largest metropolitan health departments in the country, providing effective and innovative health and disease prevention services that achieve and sustain safer and healthier communities for over 1.8 million residents and visitors of King County . Answering the needs of an increasingly diverse population, Public Health - Seattle & King County touches people's lives every day through health promotion and prevention activities, disease surveillance, health care, outreach and referral services, environmental health services, emergency medical care, jail health services, and readiness and response to public health emergencies.

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