Marion County is seeing its largest outbreak of measles in over 50 years.
Twenty people have been diagnosed so far this summer, all unvaccinated and most of them under 19 years old, according to Oregon Health Authority data.
The last time the county saw at least 20 cases in the same year was 1973, said Jonathan Modie, Oregon Health Authority spokesman, in an email to Salem Reporter.
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 can be severe and include pneumonia and, in rare cases, brain swelling.
In 1973, Marion County saw 95 cases. The measles, mumps and rubella vaccine was first licensed in 1971, and first required in Oregon schools in 1981, according to Modie.
The World Health Organization declared measles eradicated in the U.S. in 2000, but it has reemerged with travel abroad and more parents choosing not to vaccinate their children.
Every person diagnosed statewide so far this year has been unvaccinated. Of the 30 cases throughout the state, all but seven are children and teens.
Marion County recorded its first case in mid-June, and confirmed its ninth case along with a list of exposure sites in Keizer and Woodburn at the end of July. All known exposure sites were disclosed in June and July, Modie said.
Modie said his agency wouldn’t provide dates that the August cases were reported.
Marion County leads the state in cases so far this year, followed by Clackamas County which has seen nine cases and Multnomah with one.
Two people have been hospitalized in the state. Modie declined to specify whether they were Marion County cases, citing patient privacy.
Locally, the county’s communicable disease team is investigating the cases and initiated contact tracing, said spokeswoman Melissa Gable. The agency is also taking to social media to urge parents to make sure students are up to date on vaccinations ahead of the school year.
Salem Health has been on high alert for signs of measles, said spokeswoman Lisa Wood in an email to Salem Reporter. That includes reinforcing screening criteria and updating signage sharing information about the risks of measles and masking guidelines.
“Measles is a highly contagious and serious disease,” Wood said. “In the event of an exposure to a contagious illness, students who are deemed susceptible may need to be temporarily excluded from school. For a measles exposure, 21 days or longer of exclusion is possible to prevent further spread and to ensure safety.”
Measles is one of the most contagious diseases known, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Without precautions like vaccinations, nine out of 10 people in the room with a measles patient will get the disease.
Most people get vaccinated against measles as children, and those with two doses are considered immune. Unvaccinated people who haven’t had measles and were born after 1957 are at high risk of infection if exposed to the virus.
According to state data, 91% of kindergarteners in Oregon are currently vaccinated, and the state has a 95% vaccination rate for children up to 12th grade.
In the case of potential exposure, Wood said symptoms usually start with a fever, cough, runny nose and eyes followed by a rash. Symptoms begin seven to 21 days after exposure.
Those who think they’ve been exposed to measles should call their doctor or urgent care before seeking care to limit spread.
The provider then will take a sample to send to a lab for testing, which will diagnose the case, Modie said. Learn more about how cases are reported here.
People can arrange for vaccination by calling their health care provider or the county’s public health clinic at 503-588-5342.
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.
