Measles case count in WA up drastically from last year, continuing to spread

From Public Health

So far in 2014 there have been 27 measles cases in Washington, up from the five reported in 2013. The most recent cases reported in the past month have been in King County (11 confirmed cases) and Pierce County (two confirmed cases). This is the third measles outbreak in our state this year and the number of cases so far is the highest reported in any year since 1996.

Washington’s trend reflects the national trend. From Jan. 1 to July 3 of this year, the U.S. has experienced the highest number of cases since elimination of ongoing measles virus circulation in the U.S. was documented in 2000. Almost all of these cases are attributed to 17 outbreaks.

The resurgence is linked to several factors — people not being vaccinated, and the fact that measles is still common in many parts of the world including parts of Europe, Asia, the Pacific, and Africa. Travelers with the measles continue to bring the disease to the U.S. and it spreads when it reaches communities where groups of people aren’t vaccinated.

Measles is highly contagious even before the rash starts. It spreads easily when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes — if you're not vaccinated, you can get the measles just by walking into a room where someone with the disease has been in the past couple of hours. About one in 10 children with measles also gets an ear infection, and up to one in 20 gets pneumonia. Of every 1000 people with measles, one is likely to get encephalitis, and one or two may die.

More information about measles and vaccine can be found at the Department of Health webpages. General information about measles here.