18th confirmed Measles case in Washington State

OLYMPIA, Wash. -- A Eighteenth "18th" case of measles has been confirmed in Grant County in Eastern Washington, and "it's possible" some people in King County also may have been exposed. Officials can confirm all 18 people weren't vaccinated. 

Please get Vaccinated (MMR shot) this prevents everyone from getting or contracting the measles. (Read the link on MMR Shots for info.)

"93 TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES IN U.S." (UPDATED DAILY - unless no new cases reported)

UPDATE 5.24.2008 - 2 new cases of measles reported in Moses Lake, Grant County Washington.

UPDATE 5.18.2008 regarding 5.16.2008 (same case) release from Grant County health Dept.  Identified source of exposure as A children's Bible study group at "Say Yes Lord Ministries", which meets on wednesday nights (weekly)  @ Chiefs Moses Middle School in Moses Lake.

UPDATE As of 5.16.2008 (5 PM MST) - 1 new case has been Confirmed within the last hour in Grant County, Washington. No further information is available at time of posting. Source: Grant County Health Dept. 

UPDATE As of 5.14.2008 - 3 new confirmed cases reported by Grant County Health District on monday bring the affected cases in the county to 15 at this time. * The newest cases have been linked to previous identified cases; there were no close contact related to school settings. Health officials confirm the source of the infection as the Lakeview Skating Rink in Soup Lake, if you were at the skating rink during the evening of April 19 & April 25 - Please call the Grant County Health District's Ephrata Office @ 509-754-6060 * via Grant County Health District Release

 There are no reports of any cases within King County or the Seattle area at this time.

Update - No New "Confirmed" cases to report from 5.07.2008 to 5.09.2008 inside of the state of Washington or any other state within the U.S.

Update As of 5.06.2008 Washington State has 4 more case from Grant county along with the original 8 cases from last week. Bringing a total of 84 confirmed cases in the U.S. from the original 64 cases reported by the CDC on 5.01.2008

Original story posted 5.04.2008

The latest case is in a female student at Moses Lake Christian Academy. All activities at the school have been cancelled until further notice while officials work to identify students and school staff who may be at risk of infection.

The girl traveled to Western Washington on Tuesday as part of a school trip, and would have been contagious at the time.

Persons who were at the following sites on Tuesday (April 29) may have been exposed:

- Krispy Kreme restaurant in Issaquah at 6210 E. Lake Sammamish Parkway S.E., from around 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

- Experience Music Project/Science Fiction Museum in Seattle, from around noon to 4:45 p.m.

- McDonald's restaurant in Issaquah at 1590 N.W. Gilman Blvd. #E-2, around 3:45 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

- Indian John Hill rest area on eastbound Interstate 90 near Cle Elum around 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Measles is a serious, highly contagious disease spread largely through coughing and sneezing.

Symptoms include a runny nose, cough and a fever that consistently rises each day, until a red, blotchy rash appears on the body. It can lead to more serious complications.

The other eight cases were in members of a family from Grant County who attended a "Generation Church Conference" in Kirkland in late March, and developed symptoms afterwards.

Symptoms usually appear after exposure - See Below.

via: Seattlepi

The "information below" is from the Seattle & King County, public health Web Site.

Measles is a highly infectious and often severe illness spread by coughing and sneezing. It causes fever, rash, cough, and red, watery eyes. The rash begins on the face and spreads to the rest of the body. Fever (often greater than 101° F), cough and other symptoms begin two to four days before the rash appears.

Measles symptoms begin seven (7) to 21 days after the exposure to measles occurred. Measles is contagious from approximately four days before the rash appears through four days after the rash appears. People can spread measles before they have the characteristic measles rash.

Measles spreads easily among susceptible persons and can result in serious infections complicated by pneumonia, encephalitis, seizures, and death. Most persons born before 1957 had the disease in childhood, and younger persons are routinely vaccinated against measles, both of which provide protection against the disease.

Persons with possible measles should wear a mask covering the nose and mouth, avoid public places, minimize contact with others, and notify their health care provider in advance to avoid patient waiting rooms.

For more information, a measles fact sheet is available at: www.metrokc.gov/health/prevcont/measles.htm

For immunizations, contact your provider or visit a Public Health – Seattle & King County immunization clinic: www.metrokc.gov/health/immunization/clinics.htm

Also see: Measles outbreak at 93 confirmed cases & rising in the U.S.