The person who tested positive for measles was at Ridgefield High School while they were contagious on Jan. 14, 15 and 16

VANCOUVER – Clark County Public Health is investigating a confirmed case of measles in a Clark County adult. The person, whose vaccination status is unverified, traveled recently to an area experiencing a measles outbreak.

The person who tested positive for measles was at Ridgefield High School while they were contagious on Jan. 14, 15 and 16. People who were at Ridgefield High School those days and who have not been vaccinated against measles or have not had measles in the past are at risk for getting sick.

Clark County Public Health is working with Ridgefield School District to identify students and staff who are not protected against measles. Those individuals will be excluded from school, child care and other public settings for 21 days.

No other public locations have been identified as possible exposure sites.

Clark County Public Health urges people who are not protected against measles to get vaccinated. Residents who have questions about the vaccine or are unsure whether they are protected should talk to their health care provider. Vaccination records are also available through the state’s MyIR Mobile system.

About measles

Measles is a highly contagious and potentially serious illness caused by a virus. It spreads through the air after a person with measles coughs or sneezes. A person with measles can spread the virus before they show symptoms. The virus also can linger in the air after someone who is infectious has left.

Measles poses the highest risk to people who have not been vaccinated, including infants younger than 12 months. The MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine provides the best protection against measles. One dose of the vaccine is about 93 percent effective at preventing measles. Two doses are about 97 percent effective.

After someone is exposed to measles, they begin to get sick in about one to three weeks. Measles symptoms begin with a fever, cough, runny nose and red eyes, followed by a rash that usually begins at the head and spreads to the rest of the body. People are contagious with measles up to four days before the rash appears and up to four days after the rash appears.

Measles can be serious in all age groups. However, children younger than 5 years and adults older than 20 years are more likely to suffer from measles complications. Common complications of measles include ear infection, lung infection and diarrhea. Swelling of the brain is a rare but much more serious complication. Measles may cause pregnant people to give birth prematurely or have a low-birth-weight baby. For every 1,000 children with measles, one or two will die from the disease.

To learn more about measles, visit the Washington State Department of Health website.

Information provided by Clark Co. WA Communications.