Measles case in traveler to King County – PUBLIC HEALTH INSIDER

Update (5.6.19): Latest locations/times are listed in the table below in bold.

Original post:

A Canadian resident from British Columbia who traveled to the Seattle area in late April 2019 has been diagnosed with measles. The traveler, a man in his 40s, has since recovered from his illness.

Prior to arriving in King County, he spent time in Japan and New York during the period that he was infected, two places that currently have measles outbreaks. This case has no connection to the recently-ended measles outbreak based in Clark County, Washington state.

While he was infectious with measles, he spent time in the Seattle area at several locations, including popular tourist attractions and Sea-Tac Airport. Anyone who does not have immunity to measles through vaccination or from previously having measles is at risk for infection if they were at a location of measles exposure.

“This case is another reminder that measles is resurgent in many areas of the United States and the world, and that because we all travel, no community is safe from measles introductions,” said Dr. Jeff Duchin, Health Officer for Public Health – Seattle & King County. “Measles vaccine is safe and effective – all adults and children should be sure they are up to date with the recommended doses of the vaccine to protect themselves and their community.”

What to do if you were in a location of potential measles exposure

Most people in our area have immunity to the measles through vaccination, so the risk to the general public is low. However, anyone who was in the locations of potential exposure to measles around the times listed below should:

Locations of potential exposure to measles in King County

The infected individual was in the following public locations; this list is not complete and will be updated on the Public Health Insider blog as new locations are confirmed.

These times include the period when the person was at the location and two hours after. Measles virus can remain in the air for up to two hours after someone infectious with measles leaves the area. Anyone who was at the following locations during the times listed could have been exposed to measles (latest locations/times are listed in the table below in bold):

Date Time Location
April 21, 2019 8 – 10 p.m. Sea-Tac International Airport
Gate A-5 to main terminal
April 24- 28, 2019 Starting 10 p.m.4/24 to noon 4/28   Marriott Courtyard Hotel Pioneer Square (612 2nd Ave, Seattle 98104)  
April 25, 2019 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Storyville Coffee
(1001 1st Ave, Seattle 98104)  
April 25, 2019 5 – 7 p.m. Kenmore Air Lake Union
(950 Westlake Avenue N. Seattle 98109)
April 26, 2019 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Immediate Clinic Capitol Hill
(1512 Broadway, Seattle 98122)
April 26, 2019 12 p.m. – 2 p.m. Monorail
(Westlake Station to Seattle Center)
April 26, 2019 2:30 – 6 p.m. Seattle Space Needle
(400 Broad St, Seattle 98109)
April 27, 2019 10 a.m. –
12:30 p.m.
Slate Coffee Roasters
(602 2nd Ave, Seattle 98104)
April 27, 2019 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. MoPOP – Museum of Pop Culture
(325 5th Ave, Seattle 98109)
April 27, 2019 2:30 – 4:30 p.m. Market Fresh (720 Olive Way, Seattle 98101)
April 27, 2019 9 – 11:30 p.m. Tasting Room (1924 Post Alley, Seattle 98101)
April 27, 2019 9:30 p.m. –
2 a.m.
The Pink Door (1919 Post Alley, Seattle 98101)
April 28, 2019 10 a.m. –
12:30 p.m.
Slate Coffee Roasters (602 2nd Ave, Seattle 98104)
April 28, 2019 10:45 a.m. –
1:30 p.m.
Kenmore Air Lake Union, Flight M5 340

About measles

Measles is a highly contagious and potentially severe disease that causes fever, rash, cough, and red, watery eyes. It mainly spreads through the air after a person with measles coughs or sneezes.

Measles symptoms begin seven to 21 days after exposure. 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.

Measles complications can include ear infections, diarrhea, pneumonia, and rarely, encephalitis (brain inflammation).

Complications from measles can happen even in healthy people but those at highest risk include: infants and children under 5 years, adults over 20 years, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems from drugs or underlying disease.

For more information about measles and measles vaccination:  kingcounty.gov/measles


Originally posted on May 4, 2019.

https://publichealthinsider.com/2019/05/04/measles-case-in-traveler-to-king-county/