2 cases of measles exposure confirmed in Snohomish County

SNOHOMISH COUNTY, Washington — The Snohomish County Health Department reported Tuesday that at least two people had been exposed to the measles virus.

Snohomish County’s positive cases come a week after Seattle and King County Public Health announced a confirmed case of measles in an adult who traveled through Sea-Tac Airport while contagious.

The SCHD said it is working with those exposed and closely monitoring their symptoms. The two exposed people were advised to quarantine themselves as much as possible and wear a mask in public places, according to the SCHD.

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“If a person was at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on January 10 between 2:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., they may have been exposed to measles,” SCHD wrote in a statement. “The infected person was in the S-Gate Concourse, D-Gate Concourse, Customs Arrivals, and Baggage Claim. The most likely time period that a person would become ill if infected from this exposure is between January 17, 2025 and January 31, 2025.”

What to do if you were in a place potentially exposed to measles

Public Health – Seattle and King County said most area residents are immune to measles through vaccination. The risk to the general public is therefore low. However, according to Public Health, anyone in places of potential exposure to measles at the indicated times should do the following:

• Find out if you have been vaccinated against measles or if you have ever had measles. Make sure you are up to date with the recommended number of measles (MMR) vaccinations.
• Call a healthcare professional promptly if you develop an illness with fever or unexplained rash. To avoid spreading measles to others, do not go to a clinic or hospital without calling them first to tell them you want to be tested for measles after exposure. It is also important to limit contact with others, especially those who are not immune.

“We are particularly concerned about people who are not immune to vaccination, especially young children. Measles is highly contagious and in severe cases can cause very high fevers, pneumonia and, although rarer, brain swelling and even death,” explains Dr James Lewis, Chief Health Officer of the Snohomish County. “Last December, measles was reported in 30 states, including Washington, and 80 percent of those cases involved people who did not have confirmed vaccinations.”