Measles Outbreak Causes State of Emergency in Washington
Measles was effectively eradicated by 2000 — but false information spread by so-called “anti-vaxxers” has meant a resurgence in the deadly disease
By Lilly Dancyger
A measles outbreak has become an official state emergency in Washington, with 36 confirmed cases and 11 suspected as of Tuesday afternoon. The state had the sixth-lowest rate of childhood vaccination for measles, mumps, and rubella in the country as of 2017, according to the CDC.
In his statement declaring the state of emergency on Friday, Governor Jay Inslee said, “The measles virus is a highly contagious infectious disease that can be fatal in small children, and the existence of 26 confirmed cases [the number at the time the state of emergency was declared] in the state of Washington creates an extreme public health risk that may quickly spread to other counties.”
The measles virus is incredibly contagious, and can even be contracted without being in proximity to an infected person, because it lingers in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves the area. It also takes several days for the telltale rash to appear, so people may not realize they’re infected until they’ve already gone to public…
