Local health officials encourage parents to have their children vaccinated for mealses.
SNOHOMISH COUNTY – Health officials have confirmed a new case of measles exposure at two Providence walk-in clinics in Snohomish County.
A pediatric patient with measles visited the Providence Monroe Walk-in Clinic on Saturday, March 29, between 6:25 p.m. and 10 p.m., and then the Providence Mill Creek Walk-in Clinic on Monday, March 31, between 8:55 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. The child and their family were later referred to Seattle Children’s Hospital, where measles was confirmed through further testing.
Providence Swedish and the Snohomish County Health Department are contacting individuals who may have been exposed during these timeframes.
Those potentially affected are advised to monitor for measles symptoms for 14 days following the date of possible exposure—April 5 to 19 for the Monroe clinic and April 7 to 21 for the Mill Creek location. At this time, there are no reports of additional cases or further public exposures.
During the clinic visits, Providence staff followed strict screening protocols and implemented appropriate measles precautions to protect patients, families, and caregivers. The Snohomish County Health Department is working closely with the family and others who may have been exposed to minimize the risk of transmission. This includes verifying vaccination records, providing guidance on symptom monitoring, and offering post-exposure prophylaxis when appropriate.
Measles is a highly contagious disease that spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, rash, and red, watery eyes. Individuals are contagious from four days before the rash appears to four days afterward. Measles can lead to serious complications such as pneumonia, ear infections, and in rare cases, brain inflammation or death. Those at highest risk include infants and children under five, adults over 20, pregnant individuals, and those with weakened immune systems.
To help prevent future incidents, Providence Swedish strongly encourages vaccination. Two doses of the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine are about 97% effective at preventing measles. The CDC recommends that everyone be fully vaccinated, and individuals unsure of their vaccination status should consult their healthcare provider. Immunity can be confirmed through medical records or a blood test known as a titer.
Public health officials emphasize the importance of maintaining high community vaccination rates. When vaccination rates fall below 95%, herd immunity is weakened, making outbreaks more likely.
For additional information or to report symptoms following potential exposure, individuals are encouraged to contact their healthcare provider or the Snohomish County Health Department.
