Summary: WA DOH confirms measles outbreak. Stay alert for cases and notify JCPH.
Use the Measles Assessment Checklist and consider measles as a diagnosis in anyone who:
- Has fever ≥101°F and a generalized maculopapular rash with cough, coryza, or conjunctivitis.
- And has recently traveled internationally.
- Or has travelled domestically to a region with a known measles outbreak or has other known or suspected exposure to measles.
If you suspect measles, call Jefferson County Public Health before the patient leaves the clinic using the reporting line: 360-385-9400 during business hours, (360) 385-9400 and select option 3 after hours.
Background
Washington State Department of Health (DOH) confirmed a measles outbreak in Snohomish County—the first in the state since 2023. Three unvaccinated children ages 23 months to 9 years tested positive for the highly contagious disease. Additionally, one person in Kittitas county tested positive. At this time, there have been no measles cases identified in Jefferson County.
The outbreak comes as measles cases are rising across the United States, with multiple states reporting increased activity. States in current measles outbreak status are Texas, New Mexico, Kansas, Ohio, North Dakota, North Carolina, and South Carolina.
The Snohomish County cases are linked to a family from South Carolina who visited multiple locations in King and Snohomish Counties while infectious, Dec. 27, 2025–Jan. 1, 2026. Additional secondary cases are possible through Jan. 22, 2026 based on the exposure timeline. Locations of potential exposure to the public include:
- Jan. 9, 2026, 8:30 a.m.–5:15 p.m.: Pathfinder Kindergarten Center (Mukilteo School District), 11401 Beverly Park Rd., Everett, WA, 98204.
- Jan. 9, 2026, 8:30 a.m.–5:15 p.m.: Serene Lake Elementary School (Mukilteo School District), 4709 Picnic Point Rd., Edmonds, WA 98026.
- Jan. 13, 2026, 1:10 p.m.–3:10 p.m.: Swedish Mill Creek Campus medical facility, 13020 Meridian Ave. S., Everett, WA, 98208.
On Jan. 15, 2026, DOH confirmed a measles case in Kittitas County that was associated with travel to South Carolina. This individual is a student at Central Washington University (CWU) and was infectious Jan. 8–16, 2026. Additional secondary cases are possible through Feb. 2, 2026 based on the exposure timeline. Locations of potential exposure to the public include:
- Jan. 8, 2026, 8:30 a.m.–2 p.m.: CWU Dining Lion Rock dining station in the Student Union & Recreation Center (SURC), 1007 N. Chestnut St., Ellensburg, WA 98926.
- Jan. 8, 2026, 3–8:30 p.m.: CWU Dining Lion Rock dining station in the SURC, 1007 N. Chestnut St., Ellensburg, WA 98926.
- Jan. 8, 2026, 1–4:50 p.m.: International Aviation Management, Samuelson Building, 111, Ellensburg, WA 98926.
- Jan. 9, 2026, 12:08–2:08 p.m.: CWU flight training center, 1101 W. Bowers Rd., Ellensburg, WA 98926.
- Jan. 9, 2026, 2:30–4:30 p.m.: CWU flight training center, 1101 W. Bowers Rd., Ellensburg, WA 98926.
Specific exposure locations and times are available on the Washington Measles Public Exposure Locations webpage. The interactive tool helps people determine if they may have been exposed and what preventive steps to take.
Washington’s last measles outbreak was in 2023, when 9 cases were confirmed, primarily in Southwest Washington.
About measles
Measles is highly contagious and spreads through the air when an infected person coughs, sneezes, breathes, or talks. The virus can remain airborne for up to two hours, meaning people can get infected even after a sick person has left the area. Measles can cause serious health complications, especially for babies and young children.
Symptoms appear 7–21 days after exposure and include:
- High fever, cough, runny nose.
- Red, watery eyes.
- Rash which begins on the face and spreads down the body.
Prevention: MMR vaccine
MMR vaccine is the strongest protection against measles and is safe and highly effective: one dose is 93% effective and two doses are 97% effective. Ensure patients are up to date on MMR vaccine per WA DOH recommendations. For children living in or visiting counties with active measles outbreaks, DOH has released Interim Pediatric Measles Outbreak Vaccination Recommendations.
Individuals vaccinated in Washington can visit MyIRMobile to access their records.
Post-Exposure Prophylaxis
For infants too young to receive vaccine and susceptible individuals who have been exposed but have not developed symptoms, measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine or immune globulin (IG) given within 72 hours of exposure, or IG within 6 days, can reduce the risk of developing measles.
Recommendations for healthcare professionals
- Prevent and prepare:
- Ensure all patients have evidence of immunity and are up to date on MMR vaccine per WA DOH recommendations.
- Ask patients about international travel plans in the upcoming months. Measles continues to be a common disease in many parts of the world. Encourage families to complete their MMR vaccines before international travel. You can consider the same recommendation for domestic travel to outbreak areas.
- Children 6–11 months of age are eligible for a dose outside of the routinely recommended vaccination schedule if they are traveling internationally or to a place within the United States with a local outbreak. Infants who get an early dose will still need an additional two doses of MMR, as routinely recommended.
- Healthcare workers and clinical support staff should have documentation of immunity to measles before an exposure, ideally as a condition of employment. Maintain readily available documentation of immunity.
- Review your internal communication plan for suspected measles cases. This should include notifying public health, your infection preventionist, and leadership. You should identify potentially exposed people at the facility (patients, visitors, staff, volunteers). Public health will work with you to coordinate testing and recommend post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) as needed for eligible people.
- Identify:
- Use this Measles Assessment Checklist to help assess the likelihood of measles.
- Be alert for potential cases among people who have recently traveled internationally or to areas of the United States with outbreaks.
- Measles presents as a prodrome of fever, cough, coryza and conjunctivitis. About three days after fever onset, the person will develop a maculopapular rash that usually starts along the hairline and spreads downward. Fever overlaps the rash and then drops about 1-3 days after the rash onset. People with measles usually appear significantly ill.
- Isolate :
- Immediately isolate patients with suspected measles in an airborne infection isolation room (AIIR) or a private room with the door closed. Follow standard and airborne precautions when evaluating suspected cases, regardless of vaccination status. Keep the door closed. Ask the patient to wear the mask for the duration of time in the clinic.
- Only staff with documented immunity to measles should enter the patient’s room. Even staff with immunity should wear PPE. Modified measles cases have occurred in vaccinated healthcare workers with evidence of immunity.
- After the patient is discharged, close the door and do not enter the room for 2 hours.
- Inform public health immediately. If you suspect measles, call Jefferson County Public Health before the patient leaves the clinic using the reporting line: 360-385-9400 during business hours, (360) 385-9400 and select option 3 after hours.
- Public health will review your measles assessment and can coordinate diagnostic testing with Washington State Public Health Laboratory (WAPHL) and follow up communication plan with the clinic.
We are here to help.
Contact Jefferson County Public Health at (360) 385-9400.