Vaccinated Seattle Children's Nurse Diagnosed With Measles

A nurse in her 20's who works at Seattle Children’s Hospital was diagnosed with measles on Monday, July 15, 2019. The fully vaccinated nurse was working at the hospital and potentially contagious between the dates of July 8-11, 2019. She contracted the virus from a measles patient who was in isolation. 

According to hospital officials, the nurse followed appropriate hospital policies and procedures when caring for the patient,   

"The nurse was exposed when caring for a patient who had tested positive for measles and was in appropriate isolation. The nurse was fully vaccinated and was wearing appropriate personal protective equipment while caring for the patient." said Lindsay Kurs a spokesperson for Seattle Children’s Hospital. 

According to the Seattle Times, the patient visited the hospital’s emergency department on June 22, 25 and 26th. Once the patient showed symptoms on June 26, 2019, the patient was placed in isolation. 

The Center for Disease Control says that people in high-risk environments, like this nurse who works in the medical field and also in a community that is experiencing a measles outbreak, should get a measles booster. 

Precautions

Patients who are diagnosed with measles are required to be isolated in an airborne infection isolation room (AIIR) for four days. Staff who care for the patient should wear N95 masks. The health department must be notified of the measles case within 24 hours of diagnosis.  

Public Health of Seattle and King County is currently investigating the case.

On July 17, 2019, the King County Health Department updated its list of possible areas of measles exposure to the public:  

• July 11, 2019 (7:50 a.m. - 9:50 a.m.) - Seattle Children's Hospital, Mountain entrance, 4500 40th Ave NE, Seattle 98105
• July 10, 2019 (6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.) - Seattle Children's Hospital, Mountain entrance, 4500 40th Ave NE, Seattle 98105
• July 10, 2019 (8:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.) -  Safeway, 6850 NE Bothell Way, Kenmore 98028
• July 10, 2019 (7:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.) - Seattle Children's Hospital, Mountain entrance, 4500 40th Ave NE, Seattle 98105
• July 9, 2019 (11:00 p.m. - 1:10 a.m.) - Starbucks in Seattle Children's Hospital, Forest 1st Floor, 4500 40th Ave NE, Seattle 98105
• July 9, 2019 (6:20 p.m. - 8:20 p.m.) - Seattle Children's Hospital, Parking Lot 3 and River entrance, elevator to C6 Surgical Unit, 4500 40th Ave NE, Seattle 98105
• July 9, 2019 (7:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.) -  Seattle Children's Hospital, River 6th floor to stairwell closest to Parking Lot 3, 4500 40th Ave NE, Seattle 98105
• July 8, 2019 (10:40 p.m. - 12:45 a.m.) - Starbucks in Seattle Children's Hospital, Forest 1st Floor, 4500 40th Ave NE, Seattle 98105
• July 8, 2019 (10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.) - Seattle Children's Hospital, Parking Lot 3 and Forest/Staff entrance, 4500 40th Ave NE, Seattle 98105
• July 8, 2019 (7:00 p.m. - 9:45 p.m.) - Metropolitan Market Sand Point, 5250 40th Ave NE, Seattle 98105

State of Emergency Declared in Washington State Over Measles Outbreak 

This is the 11th case of measles reported in King County since January 2019. 

In January Washington Governor, Jay Inslee, declared a State of Emergency following over 36 confirmed cases of measles in the Clark county. Clark county borders Portland, OR and has traditionally low vaccination rates - with children making up the vast majority of those infected by the measles. 

In the year 2000, measles was officially declared eliminated in the United States. The Center For Disease Control lists precautions and updates regarding the national outbreak.