Measles outbreak in Northwestern US
This year, Washington state is averaging more than one new measles case a day as officials try to stop the disease’s spread.
Since January 1, Clark County Public Health has confirmed 49 cases of measles. In King County, home of Seattle, at least one confirmed case was reported.
A vast majority of those who came down with measles — 41 — were not vaccinated against the disease, Clark County officials said. One patient received a vaccination against MMR (measles, mumps and rubella), but the health agency declined to provide more details on that case “to protect the patient’s privacy.”
Most of the Washingtonians affected — 34 — are children between the ages of 1 and 10.
Washington isn’t the only state grappling with the disease. Officials in Harris County, Texas, which includes Houston, reported three cases of measles Monday, bringing the total number of cases in the state this year to six.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, at least 10 states have reported cases of measles in 2019: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Texas and Washington.