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Measles cases have been rising across the United States—and in Oregon, the outbreak is now the largest since 1991, according to data from the Oregon Health Authority (OHA).

Measles were first reported in Oregon in mid-June and cases have increased since then. As of September 6, the OHA reported 31 cases of measles in the state, all in unvaccinated people, and two people have been hospitalized. The majority of cases are in children and teens. By county, 21 cases have been reported in Marion, followed by nine cases in Clackamas and one in Multnomah.

Measles is a highly contagious disease, and the only known way to prevent it is by getting the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine. Most people get the vaccine at age 1 and 4.

Public health officials point to the falling rate of children getting the MMR vaccine as the cause of the current outbreak.

What Is Measles?

The measles virus can pass from an infected person to another person by coughing or sneezing. The virus can stay in the air for up to two hours.

Measles can cause the following symptoms:

• High fever (may spike to more than 104°F)
• Cough
• Runny nose
• Red, watery eyes
• Rash three to five days after symptoms begin

Measles Can Be Serious

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

• About 1 out of 5 people who get measles will be hospitalized.
• 1 out of every 1,000 people with measles will develop brain swelling due to infection, called encephalitis, which may lead to brain damage.
• 1 to 3 out of 1,000 people with measles will die, even with the best care.

What Should I Do?

The good news is the measles vaccine is safe and extremely effective.

Make sure you and your children are up to date on all your vaccines, including the MMR vaccine. CareOregon covers the cost of most vaccines for children and adults. To know which vaccines are given based on age, refer to the recommended vaccine schedules for children and adults.

• If you aren’t sure if you or your children are already vaccinated for measles, talk to your health care provider, contact the OHA, or see these tips on locating your vaccination records.
• If you are sick and think you may have measles, call your health care provider and ask what to do. They will likely want you to stay home and avoid contact with others.

Here’s a PDF with some additional helpful information about measles.

If you contract the measles, make sure you contact your local public health authority so they can track if anyone else has been exposed.

For more information, visit:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Oregon Health Authority