An infant infected with measles could have exposed King County residents to the disease in Bellevue and Northeast Seattle, including on public transit.
Public Health - Seattle & King County said in a news release Friday night that the infant was aboard the light rail 2 line and on a King County Metro bus last week. The infant was likely exposed to measles during international travel, the health department said. The case is not connected to previous local measles cases, the news release said.
People who were exposed to the infant would likely become sick between Friday and April 29, according to health officials.
The CDC recommends children get their first dose of the measles vaccine at 12 months, followed by their second dose when between 4 and 6 years old. If an infant between 6 and 11 months old is traveling internationally, they should get one dose and two more doses after their 1st birthday.
Most people in King County have immunity to measles through vaccination, so the risk to the general public is low. Two doses of measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine provides about 97% protection against measles and protection lasts a lifetime.
Anyone who was in the locations of exposure around the times listed should find out if they have been vaccinated, and call a health care provider immediately if they develop an unexplained rash or fever. To avoid spreading the infection, someone with symptoms should call the hospital or clinic first. Do not just walk in; that will expose others.
Exposure may have occurred at:
* April 3, from 8 to 10:15 a.m. — Safeway (1645 140th Ave. N.E., Bellevue)
* April 3, from 6 to 10:30 p.m. — Metro Route 250
* April 3, throughout the day — Light rail 2 Line
* April 5, throughout the day — Light rail 2 Line and Metro bus Route 250
* April 5, from 2 to 6 p.m. — Supreme Dumplings (14603 N.E. 20th St. No. 4B, Bellevue)
* April 8, — Seattle Children’s (4500 40th Ave. N.E., Seattle)
2:55 p.m.-5 p.m.: Forest B: parking garage, elevators, pharmacy, lobby, and hallway to emergency department
2:55 p.m.-6:40 p.m.: Emergency department lobby
Washington has recorded relatively few measles cases compared with other parts of the country, including Texas and New Mexico, which continue to battle major outbreaks. Prior to this case, there have been 33 cases of measles in Washington this year.
Vaccination rates are high in Western Washington, which has prevented the small number of local measles cases from spreading further in the community, the King County health department said. Still, there are clusters of underimmunization, the department said. For example, only 62% of Washington 4- to 6-year-olds were fully vaccinated last year.
The CDC now recommends that anyone traveling internationally ensure they’re fully vaccinated against measles at least two weeks before traveling.
Measles is extremely contagious. It can cause fever, rash, cough, runny nose, pneumonia, and red, watery eyes. In rare cases, it can be deadly. A person is infectious from about four days before the rash appears through four days after.
One person infected with measles can spread the virus to up to 9 out of 10 people nearby if they aren’t protected, the health department said.
For more information about measles, including where to get vaccinations, go to kingcounty.gov/measles.
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