Two Measles Cases in King County

Local public health officials have confirmed measles infection in a 6-month-old infant and the infant’s father, both King County residents who had recently traveled to Asia. The infant and the adult were both unimmunized. Before they were diagnosed, they may have exposed others to the measles at a few public locations.

Most people in King County area have immunity to the measles through vaccination, but people should check the exposure locations and their immunization records and call a health care provider promptly if they develop symptoms.

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, all persons who were in the following locations around the same time as the individuals with measles should:

Find out if they have been vaccinated for measles or have had measles previously, and call a health care provider promptly if they develop an illness with fever or illness with an unexplained rash between March 21 and April 8, 2017. To avoid possibly spreading measles to other patients, do not go to a clinic or hospital without calling first to tell them you want to be evaluated for measles.

Locations of potential exposure to measles

Before they were diagnosed with measles, the infected individuals were in the following public locations. Anyone who was at the following locations during the times listed was possibly exposed to measles:

Amazon Houdini Building, 535 300 Boren Ave N Seattle 98109 during these times:

March 14, 2017: 9:20 AM - 8:30 PM

March 15, 2017: 9:20 AM - 7:30 PM

March 16, 2017: 9:20 AM - 8:30 PM

March 17, 2017: 9:20 AM - 5:30 PM

Amazon Roxanne Building, 202 Westlake Ave N, Seattle during this time:

March 17, 2017: 11:00 AM - 5:30PM

AMLI 535 Apartments, (lobby and elevators) 535 Pontius Ave N, Seattle during these times:

March 14, 2017: 9:10 AM - 11:15 AM, 12:40 PM - 3:15 PM, 7:30 PM - 9:45 PM

March 15, 2017: 9:10 AM - 3:15 PM, 5:45 PM - 8:00 PM

March 16, 2017: 9:10 AM - 11:15 AM, 12:40 PM - 8:45 PM

March 17, 2017: 9:10 AM - 8:00 PM

March 18, 2017: 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM

Whole Foods, 2210 Westlake Ave Seattle 98121 during this time:

March 14, 2017: 6:45 PM - 9:15 PM

The Polyclinic Madison Center, 904 7th Ave, Seattle during these times:

March 16, 2017: 2:15 PM - 5:00 PM

March 17, 2017: 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Homegrown Sustainable Sandwiches, 208 Westlake Ave N, Seattle during this time:

March 18, 2017: 1:30 PM - 3:35 PM

If you were at the locations at the times listed above and are not immune to measles, the most likely time you would become sick is between March 21, 2017 and April 8, 2017.

About measles

Measles is a highly contagious and potentially severe disease that causes fever, rash, cough, and red, watery eyes. It is mainly spread 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.

People at highest risk from exposure to measles include those who are unvaccinated, pregnant women, infants under six months of age and those with weakened immune systems.

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