The Oregon Health Authority has confirmed another case of measles in Portland, just over a week after warning about a previous infection.
There's a tie between these two cases, health officials said. The person diagnosed on Aug. 10 infected the one diagnosed on Aug. 19, the latest case to date.
So far five people have been infected in the Portland metro area in what appears to be two separate outbreaks.
"Measles is one of the most contagious diseases we know," said Rebecca Pierce, an infectious disease nurse with the Oregon Health Authority. "It takes very high levels of vaccination in the population to stop its spread."
State health officials said that anyone at the following locations may be at risk:
Aug. 17, Portland International Airport, 9:15 to 10:45 p.m.
Aug. 18, Marco’s Café and Espresso Bar, 7910 S.W. 35th Ave., Portland, 8 to 11 a.m.
The symptoms of measles start with a fever, cough, runny nose and red eyes, followed by a red rash that usually begins on the face and spreads to the rest of the body. People are contagious with measles for four days before the rash appears and up to four days after the rash appears.
Common complications of measles include ear infection, lung infection, and diarrhea. Swelling of the brain is a rare but much more serious complication. In developed countries, one or two out of every 1,000 children with measles die from the disease.
After someone is exposed, symptoms can develop in about two weeks, sometimes longer. Oregon public health officials advise anyone who believes they have symptoms of measles to first call their health care provider or urgent care center by telephone to create an entry plan to avoid exposing others in waiting rooms.
Anyone with questions about measles infection or the measles vaccine should call their primary care provider or their county health department. For more information on measles for the public, please visit the state measles webpage at or call the public health departments in the following areas:
Multnomah County 503-988-3406 Clackamas County 503-655-8411 Washington County 503-846-3594 Yamhill County 503-434-7525 Clark County 360-397-8182
