Health Alert: Measles case in a King County Resident Associated with International Travel

2/28/2025

Action Requested

Be aware of a confirmed measles case in an infant in King County who traveled internationally.

• Secondary cases would be expected to occur February 27, 2025 – March 18, 2025. 

Isolate 

• Have a planned triage process for patients with fever and rash so these patients are not waiting in common areas with other people. 
• Patients with rash and fever should not stay in waiting rooms or other common areas. 
• Immediately isolate patients with suspected measles in an airborne infection isolation room (AIIR) or a private room with a closed door. 
• Follow standard and airborne precautions when evaluating suspected cases, regardless of vaccination status.
• After patient is discharged, do not use or have staff enter the room for 2 hours.

Notify

• Report suspected measles cases to the Snohomish County Health Department at (425) 339-3503 immediately AND before discharging or transferring patients.
• Public Health will ensure appropriate, rapid testing and investigation.

Test

• Collect the following specimens on patients with suspected measles: 
  • Nasopharyngeal swab placed in viral transport media; AND 
  • Urine, minimum 20mL, in sterile leak proof container; AND 
  • Serum, minimum 1mL, in red top or red-grey top tube 
• Public Health will facilitate diagnostic testing with Washington State Public Health Laboratory (WAPHL).

Manage

• Health care facilities should identify potentially exposed persons at the facility (patients, visitors, staff, and volunteers).
• Public Health will identify close contacts and recommend post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for eligible people.

Vaccinate

• Assess immunization status during healthcare visits at every visit and strongly recommend measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccination based on the recommended schedule, health condition, occupation, and other risk factors such as travel.
• Under-vaccinated individuals may be at risk for measles infection due to outbreaks that occur in the US or anywhere else in the world.

  
  

Background

A case of measles in a King County infant with exposure during international travel, is being investigated in Washington state. At this time there are no identified cases of Measles in Snohomish County.

The infant with measles was at the following locations during their infectious period before receiving the diagnosis of measles (the time for exposure includes the period when the infant was at the locations listed below and two hours after): 

There is no ongoing risk for measles exposure at these locations. 

Measles illness starts with a prodrome of fever, cough, coryza, and conjunctivitis (typically lasting 2-4 days) and then a generalized maculopapular rash that typically begins on the face/head then spreads to the neck, trunk and extremities. Increases in measles cases and outbreaks are occurring in every region of the world.

CDC recommends all U.S. residents aged 6 months and older without evidence of immunity, who plan to travel internationally, get the MMR vaccine at least 2 weeks prior to departure. Infants 6 to 11 months of age who get the MMR vaccine before international travel should get an additional 2 doses of MMR according to the recommended schedule, after 1 year of age. 

For further guidance or to report a case, contact Snohomish County Health Department at: 

(425) 339-3503

shd-CDQuestions@co.snohomish.wa.us

Resources

• For Healthcare Providers
  • Measles One-Pager for Healthcare Providers – Project Firstline and AAP
  • Measles - For Healthcare Professionals– CDC
  • Measles Specimen Collection Instructions for RT-PCR – WA DOH
  • Measles Specimen Collection Instructions for Serology – WA DOH
  • Immunization Schedules – CDC
  • Safety Information for Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) Vaccines – CDC
• For Infection Preventionists
  • Interim Measles Infection Prevention Recommendations in Healthcare Settings – CDC
  • Measles Playbook – APIC Emerging Infectious Diseases Task Force
• For Laboratories
  • Public Health Laboratories Lab Test Menu – WA DOH
  • Measles Specimen Shipping Guide – WA DOH 
•  For General Public and International Travelers
  • Measles Resources – PHSKC
  • Plan for Travel – Measles – CDC