2 more measles cases in unvaccinated Marion Co. child, adult

SALEM Ore. (KPTV) – A fifth and sixth case of measles since June 17 were identified on Friday in Marion County, according to public health officials.

The cases involve an unvaccinated child and adult and were confirmed on Friday, according to county officials.

“Currently, there are no known public exposures in Marion County, and there are currently no known connections between these cases and the four other recently confirmed measles cases in Marion County,” officials said. “To date, all cases in Marion County have been in separate households.”

Previously, on Tuesday, officials identified the fourth case, which was also in an unvaccinated child.

Statewide in Oregon as of July 17, there had been six confirmed cases and one possible case, with two people being hospitalized. FOX 12 has reached out to OHA to verify that the Friday cases bring the count to eight cases statewide.

On June 17, officials confirmed two measles cases in a single household in Clackamas County. According to OHA, the cases involved an unvaccinated adult and an unvaccinated child, and officials believe they may have been exposed in Marion County between May 19 and June 4, with the exact location unknown.

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At the time, health officials said there might be other, unreported measles cases in Oregon.

The next day, officials announced a third case had been identified in a Marion County child, who first showed symptoms on June 11. The child’s vaccination status was unknown.

On Tuesday, Multnomah County reported the county’s first case of measles since 2019. Health officials said an unvaccinated child was diagnosed with the virus after traveling to a country where measles is more common.

Officials said they expect other unvaccinated family members to catch the virus as well, but said the family is quarantining until they are no longer contagious.

According to the Oregon Health Dashboard, there have been six confirmed cases of measles in Oregon from the start of the year through July 17, with three in the second week of June and three in the second week of July. In 2023, there was one confirmed case of measles in Oregon:

Measles spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the virus is so contagious, that if one person has it, up to 90% of the people in close contact will become infected if they are not protected through vaccination.

Symptoms of measles include:

• Fever
• Cough
• Runny nose
• Red eyes
• Rash that starts on the face and spreads to the rest of the body

Complications of measles can be severe and include ear infections, pneumonia, and in rare instances, swelling of the brain.

If you think you have measles or have been exposed to it, please call your medical provider before visiting their office or an urgent care center. More information about measles can be found on the Oregon Health Authority website here.

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