SEATTLE — Washington state health officials say an Aberdeen teenager and a California woman who visited several public spots in King and Snohomish counties have fallen ill with measles. Both had visited Disney theme parks in California last month.
The woman from California visited three locations in Snohomish County. She was at Bethany at Pacific, 916 Pacific Ave. in Everett, from 1 to 7 p.m. Dec. 30 and later at Anthony’s HomePort, 456 Admiral Way in Edmonds, from 8 p.m. to midnight. The woman also was in the Swedish/Edmonds Emergency Room, 21601 76th Ave. W., from 2:45 to 6:30 p.m. Jan. 1.
Employees at all three businesses who do not have proof of a measles vaccination are being tested. So far, no other cases of measles have been reported in the county.
“The vaccine is effective, so there’s not a great deal of local concern,” said Heather Thomas, a spokeswoman with the county health department. “It’s just a reminder that folks need to make sure they’re vaccinated against measles. The likelihood of getting it is small, but it is a very contagious disease.”
If anyone who visited the locations listed above believes they might be ill, especially if their symptoms include a high fever or unexplained rash, they should call their doctor or a local hospital before coming in so they don’t expose others to the disease, Thomas said. It can take up to three weeks after exposure for symptoms to be noticed.
Health officials in California said Friday that 19 people who visited the theme parks have fallen ill with measles: 16 in California, two in Utah and one in Colorado.
It was not clear late Friday whether the California woman who visited Washington state was included in that total. Washington state officials say the unimmunized woman in her 20s flew from Orange County, California, to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on Dec. 29 and departed the airport Jan. 3 to return home. She stayed with family in Snohomish County. She was diagnosed with measles Jan. 8.
Washington health officials say measles also has been confirmed in the unvaccinated teenage girl in Grays Harbor County. They said she was treated at Summit Pacific Medical Center in Elma while she was contagious.
— Herald writer Kari Bray contributed to this report.
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