Not violating law
In 2015, an outbreak of measles occurred in Clallam County. Due to herculean efforts to track and isolate cases, quarantine contacts and vaccinate those not protected, only five cases were reported before the outbreak was declared over.
One additional case, resulting in the death of a young woman, was discovered later.
This death continues to haunt those involved in the response effort.
Measles is not a benign disease.
Although many infected people only develop fever, cough and rash, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that one in five people with measles in the U.S. are hospitalized, one in 20 develop pneumonia and one in 1,000 develop swelling of the brain.
As we learned, sometimes people die due to measles.
Measles is one of the world’s most contagious diseases. It spreads when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks. The virus can linger, and remain infectious, in the air or on surfaces for up to two hours, even after the infected person has left the room.
Measles is again on the rise across the nation. A small rural community in West Texas has been hit the hardest with 58 cases as of Feb. 18; one-third of cases have been hospitalized.
Measles could return to Clallam County.
Vaccination is the best way to prevent its spread. The vaccine has been used for more than 50 years and given to hundreds of millions of people.
Prioritize your health, your family’s health, and the health of your community by getting vaccinated.
Measles moves fast. Please don’t wait.
Dr. Jeanette Stehr-Green
Former acting Clallam County Public Health Officer
Port Angeles