On Friday, Clark County, Washington, health officials declared a public health emergency due to a measles outbreak in the area. The 23 confirmed cases are all from a region with a high rate of unvaccinated children. According to TV station KPTV Fox 12 Oregon, 18 of the children are younger than 10 years of age, four are between 11 and 18, and one victim is an adult older than 18. At least 20 of the cases are children who were not immunized. It is yet to be confirmed whether the other three had been immunized or not.
Four new possible exposure sites were identified by health officials Tuesday, including PDX. The airport was first exposed between 10:45 a.m. and 3:45 p.m. Jan. 7, specifically near Concourse D and the Delta Sky Lounge during that time period.
Clark County is not the worst when it comes to low immunization rates, but there is still a contingent that holds the false belief that immunizations are more dangerous than they are helpful. It’s that kind of thinking that led over 5,000 students in Clark County to enroll in school this year with immunization exemptions.
There is a full listing of the possible exposure locations in the area on the Clark County Public Health website. Get your family immunized.