Health officials confirm fourth measles case in Marion County
An unvaccinated child has been diagnosed with Marion County’s fourth case of measles since last month, Marion County public health officials said Wednesday.
The diagnosis comes less than a week after officials announced two other cases in Marion County, which have no known connections to each other, Marion County Health Department spokeswoman Melissa Gable said. They are also not related to three other measles cases tied to Marion County in mid-June.
The most recent child was diagnosed on July 16, and health officials are working to contact people who were potentially exposed. There are no known public exposures to the disease, the health department said.
The disease typically causes fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes and a rash that starts on the face and spreads to the rest of the body.
Complications from the disease can be severe and include pneumonia and, in rare cases, brain swelling.
Most people are vaccinated against measles starting in childhood and are considered immune to the disease. But unvaccinated people who haven’t had measles and were born after 1957 are at high risk of infection if exposed to the virus.
“If you think you have measles or have been exposed to it, do not visit a medical office without calling ahead. This is to prevent the spreading of the virus to others. Call your provider or urgent care center to provide a plan for your visit,” the health department said.
Measles poses the highest risk to unvaccinated pregnant people, infants younger than 1 year old, and people with weakened immune systems.
Nonmedical exemptions for childhood vaccinations have been climbing in Oregon, worrying health officials. Nearly 9% of kindergarten students across the state were missing at least one required vaccine this year, the second highest rate in the nation.For more information, see the Oregon Health Authority’s website.
Contact reporter Abbey McDonald: [email protected] or 503-575-1251.
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Abbey McDonald joined the Salem Reporter in 2022. She previously worked as the business reporter at The Astorian, where she covered labor issues, health care and social services. A University of Oregon grad, she has also reported for the Malheur Enterprise, The News-Review and Willamette Week.
