Health Advisory: Measles Case Confirmed in Spokane County

This is a health advisory from the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) Vaccine Preventable Diseases (VPD) Program.

A case of measles has been identified in a Spokane County resident; rash onset date February 15, 2024. This case is not connected to recent cases in Southwest Washington.

Current Situation in Washington

A case of measles was confirmed this week at Washington State Public Health Laboratories (WA PHL). The case occurred in a Spokane County resident with a rash onset date of February 15, 2024. This adult was exposed to measles during international travel and became contagious during their return travel to Washington. Spokane Regional Health District (SRHD) is actively implementing preventive measures for measles and monitoring the health of those who have likely been exposed. Please note that the measles cluster identified earlier this year in Clark and Wahkiakum Counties has ended, and this case is unrelated.

SRHD has identified the following public locations, dates, and times where potential exposures to measles may have occurred in Washington:

  • Sunday, February 11 through Monday, February 12, 2024
    • 9:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m.: Spokane International Airport, Concourse B
  • Monday, February 12, 2024
    • 10 a.m.-4 p.m.: Deer Park Library, 208 S. Forest Ave., Deer Park, WA
    • 4-8:30 p.m.: Rozy’z Hot Shotz, 617 S. Fir Ave., Deer Park, WA
    • Evening hours: Taco Bell, 807 S. Main Ave., Deer Park, WA
  • Tuesday, February 13, 2024
    • 5:30-7:30 p.m.: Creekside Kenpo Karate, 3506 Eloika Rd., Deer Park, WA
  • Thursday, February 15, 2024
    • 4:30-7:15 p.m.: Horizon Credit Union, 900 S. Main St., Deer Park, WA

In addition to the above, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Division of Global Migration Health (DGMH) also identified 11 Washington residents that may have been exposed to measles on a February 11, 2024 flight. Relevant local health jurisdictions have been notified.

Health officials at SRHD have been contacting people who were at impacted locations to alert them of potential exposure to measles. SRHD also issued a press release with more details, including additional public exposure locations outside of Washington. 

Actions Requested

All local health jurisdictions in Washington should remain alert for reports of potential cases of measles, or for people with measles-like symptoms presenting to facilities in their jurisdiction, especially in people who spent time at any of the above locations.

  • Anticipated symptom onset dates for potentially linked cases: Between February 18 and March 8, 2024
  • The measles assessment checklist for providers can be modified with your jurisdiction’s logo and contact information.
  • Refer to DOH's full measles case investigation guideline for additional direction.
  • If measles is suspected in a symptomatic patient, immediately contact WA DOH CD Epi VPD Team at 206-418-5500 to request prompt diagnostic testing at WA PHL.
    • Preferred specimens are Nasopharyngeal (NP) swabs and urine specimens.
    • Due to a national shortage of measles IgM test kits, serum specimens will be submitted to CDC if IgM testing is approved.
    • Measles IgG testing continues to be available at WA PHL.

Contact

For additional questions, to report suspected cases and/or to request testing, please contact: 

Vaccine-Preventable Disease (VPD) Program
Email: vpd-cde@doh.wa.gov (Monitored during business hours)
Phone: 206-418-5500

To read this and other WA HAN messages, please visit the Washington Health Alert Network webpage.