Two new measles exposure sites identified in Keizer

KEIZER, Ore. (KATU) — Two new measles exposure locations have been identified in Keizer.

Oregon Health Authority and Marion County public health spokespersons are urging all who believe they were exposed to speak with a health care provider about risks.

The exposure locations, dates and times are as follows:

• Solar Nails, 4910 River Road N., Keizer, between 12 p.m. and 4:15 p.m. Monday, March 30.
• Pho Keizer, 3400 River Road N., Keizer, between 2:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Monday, March 30.

People who were at these locations during these dates and time periods should contact a health care provider and let them know they may have been exposed to someone who has measles.

Health care providers can then determine whether immunity to measles is present based on vaccination status, age or laboratory evidence of prior infection.

Symptoms and ‘immune amnesia’

Measles spreads through the air after an infected person coughs or sneezes, with the virus lingering for up to two hours.

Symptoms typically start with a fever, cough, runny nose, and red eyes, followed by a rash. Complications can include ear infections, lung infections, and, rarely, brain swelling.

Measles is one of the most contagious diseases, and is known to cause a dangerous and unique phenomenon called “immune amnesia,” in which the infected patient’s immune system goes through a reset, effectively “forgetting” any immunity it had towards other diseases.

According to studies, in a room full of people exposed to measles, 90% who are unvaccinated will develop the disease. In addition, it can linger in the air for up to 2 hours.

Even in healthy people, measles can cause the following:

• 1 out of every 1,000 measles cases will develop acute encephalitis, which often results in permanent brain damage.
• 1 to 3 out of every 1,000 children who become infected with measles will die from respiratory and neurologic complications.
• Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), a rare but fatal degenerative disease of the central nervous system characterized by:
• Behavioral and intellectual deterioration.
• Seizures that generally develop 7 to 10 years after measles infection.

Public health officials advise those experiencing symptoms not to visit medical offices unannounced. Instead, they should call ahead to arrange a safe entry plan to prevent exposing others.

Symptoms typically appear seven to 21 days after exposure.

The virus can be particularly dangerous for infants, young children, adults over 20, pregnant individuals, and those with weakened immune systems.

Push for vaccinations

The measles vaccine is highly effective, with two doses of the MMR vaccine providing 97% protection against the virus.

The resurgence of measles is linked to global spikes in cases, increasing the likelihood of unvaccinated travelers bringing the virus back to the U.S.

Measles was once a major health threat in the U.S., especially for children, with hundreds of thousands of cases and hundreds of deaths annually before the 1960s.

The introduction of the measles vaccine in 1963 led to a dramatic decline in cases, deaths, and serious complications.

By 1981, less than 1% of the previous number of cases were reported, and only 10% of U.S. counties saw any cases at all, according to the CDC.

Learn more about measles on OHA‘s website.