SPOKANE, Wash. — A confirmed measles exposure at Providence Sacred Heart’s emergency department has been linked to an unvaccinated child from Kootenai County.
Dr. Dan Getz, chief medical officer at Inland Northwest Washington Providence, said doctors are still determining how many people may have been exposed over the weekend.
“Safety really is determined by your vaccination status,” Getz said.
The emergency department has implemented screening protocols for patients showing measles symptoms including high fever, runny nose, red eyes and a rash starting at the hairline.
“The problem with measles is it’s airborne, so it hangs in the air for up to two hours and is transmitted just from coughing or sneezing. But just talking will spread the virus,” Getz explained.
Getz says one out of every five measles patients will require hospitalization.
“It’s really hard to see that being more dangerous than getting a vaccine,” he said.
The MMR vaccine can provide protection even after exposure.
“If you had exposure, you have a window of roughly six days where if you’ve not been vaccinated, you can get a vaccine, a single dose of MMR, which will protect you from developing the disease,” Getz said.
Healthcare providers urge anyone who believes they were exposed to call their medical provider before visiting in person.
“It’s the most contagious disease known to man,” Getz said.
The Panhandle Health District is still continuing contact tracing efforts.
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