Here’s a health alert for Snoqualmie Valley residents whom may have been in the Issaquah area over the past week.
King County Public officials are warning area residents of a newly diagnosed case of measles in eastern King County. This makes the second confirmed case in King County since January 25th.
The person was exposed to the disease at SeaTac Airport on January 18th by an infected traveler. The contagious person was traveling from Amsterdam to Portland, Oregon and spent approximately 6 hours at SeaTac during a layover. Diagnosis happened on January 23rd.
Measles is a highly contagious, potentially severe respiratory disease caused by the measles virus. It is mainly spread through the air after an infected person coughs or sneezes. Because most people have immunity from measles vaccinations, the risk to the general public is low.
However, people who were at the same locations at the same time as contagious individuals should:
- Find out if they have been vaccinated for measles or have had measles previously, and
- Call a health care provider promptly if they develop an illness with fever or illness with an unexplained rash.
Before the new case was diagnosed, the infected person may have exposed people in areas of the community – more specifically in the Issaquah/Sammamish community. Komo News also reported the person is a staffer at Tiger Mountain Community High School in Issaquah.
King County Public Health says anyone at the following sites during the following times was possibly exposed to measles:
QFC—4570 Klahanie Dr S, Issaquah
- January 23rd between 3-7PM
- January 24th between 3-7PM
- January 25th between 3-7PM
- January 29th between 12-2:30PM
Starbucks—4566 Klahanie Dr SE, Issaquah
- January 26th between 9-11:30AM
If you were in theses areas and are not immunized, you could get sick between January 30th and February 19th.
Symptoms of measles usually begin 7-14 days after exposure and include a blotchy rash, fever, cough, runny nose, red watery eyes.
(Photo courtesy CDC.gov – screenshot)
