WASHINGTON — Health leaders are urging residents to get vaccinated as Washington state experiences a measles outbreak.
Candace DeMatteis from the Partnership to Fight Infectious Disease highlighted the contagious nature of measles.
“If someone with measles comes into a room and ten people are not vaccinated, nine out of those ten people will get measles. That’s how infectious it is,” said DeMatteis.
In 2025, Washington reported 12 confirmed measles cases, with some individuals over the age of 18 affected. This year, the outbreak continues with six confirmed cases.
The Washington State Department of Health’s website lists Snohomish, Kittitas, and Clark counties as locations where infected individuals were present in the last 21 days.
DeMatteis emphasized the importance of notifying others, including your local health department, about potential exposure.
“It is important that they let others know that they may have been exposed. There is a window of opportunity of 72 hours if you’re not vaccinated and you’ve been exposed to get vaccinated, that can prevent you from developing measles,” said DeMatteis.
The CDC recommends the M-M-R vaccination, which also covers mumps and rubella. One dose is 93% effective while two doses are 97% effective. DeMatteis advises prioritizing children’s vaccinations, with the first dose between 12 and 15 months and the second dose between ages four and six. Adults can receive both doses at least 28 days apart.
The seriousness of the outbreak is evident, as DeMatteis noted, “1 in 5 children during this current outbreak who get measles end up in the hospital. It is that serious. It is not simply a rash or like a cold. It is a very serious respiratory virus and people are very vulnerable to bad outcomes.”
For more information on the outbreak, residents can visit the Washington State Department of Health’s website.
