Measles Confirmed In King County, Health Dept. Urges Vaccinations

RENTON, WA - King County has confirmed that a local man in his 50s contracted measles, a highly contagious but preventable disease. The man traveled to multiple locations around Puget Sound recently, and so health officials are urging people to get the measles vaccine.

According to health officials, the man recently traveled to Clark County, where some 23 people have come down with measles. The King County man was hospitalized but has since recovered, according to health officials.

The measles vaccine is common - most people get it during childhood. People who are not vaccinated can still get it, and it can even help if you've already contracted measles.

“Measles is a highly contagious disease and if you don’t have immunity, you can get it just by being in a room where a person with measles has been,” King County health officer Dr. Jeff Duchin said in a press release. “Fortunately, the measles vaccine is very effective. Two doses of measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine provides over 95 percent protection against measles and that protection is long-lasting.”

The majority of cases in southwest Washington were found in children, many who were not vaccinated.

King County health authorities have released a list of places where the local man with measles traveled recently. If you aren't vaccinated and visited any of these locations, you might show symptoms sometime between today and Feb. 6.

• Jan. 9, 7 a.m. - 6 p.m. Lease Crutcher Lewis Boeing 17-88 Construction Site (2400 Perimeter Rd, Auburn)
• Jan. 10, 7 a.m. - 6 p.m. Lease Crutcher Lewis Boeing 17-88 Construction Site (2400 Perimeter Rd, Auburn)
• Jan. 10, 6:30 - 10:30 p.m. Mt Rainier High School vs Kentlake High School basketball game at Kent Lake High School (21401 SE Falcon Way, Kent)
• Jan. 11, 7 a.m. - 2 p.m. Lease Crutcher Lewis Boeing 17-88 Construction Site (2400 Perimeter Rd, Auburn)
• Jan. 12, 6:30 - 10:30 p.m. Kent Lake High School vs. Tahoma High School basketball game @ Kent Lake High School (21401 SE Falcon Way, Kent)
• Jan. 14, 9:55 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. Valley Medical Center- Covington Urgent Care (27500 168th Place SE, Covington)
• Jan. 16, 10 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. Multicare Covington Hospital Emergency Department (17700 SE 272nd St, Covington)

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