Action requested:
- Consider measles in patients with compatible symptoms who have contacts that attended the Generation Church Conference in Kirkland from 3/25 through 3/29. Symptoms of measles include:
- Prodrome of fever, cough, coryza and conjunctivitis for 2 to 4 days
- Generalized maculopapular rash that usually begins on the face
- Koplik spots that may appear on buccal mucosa 1 to 2 days prior to rash
- Instruct reception staff to identify patients who present with symptoms of possible measles - such patients should wear a mask covering the nose and mouth and should be kept away from patient waiting rooms
- Report suspected cases of measles to Public Health at (206) 296-4774 immediately
- Route laboratory specimens through Public Health to expedite testing
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The Washington State Department of Health (WA DOH) yesterday confirmed the diagnosis of measles in a Grant County family that attended a large church conference in Kirkland during their exposure period. Eight of the 10 children in the household have had rash illness, the first starting on 4/12 and the others with onsets between 4/18 and 4/21. Measles IgM antibody was found in 3 children who had persistent illness. Neither parent has been ill. Some of the children were unimmunized.
The family had attended the Generations Church Conference at The City Church in Kirkland. The conference was held 3/25 through 3/29, with 2,000 to 3,0000 attendees from multiple states and countries. It is possible the family was exposed to measles during this event. Others who may have been exposed at the conference likely would have become ill by now, but contacts of conference attendees could possibly be developing illness now. Therefore have a high suspicion for measles in any patient with prodromal symptoms or rash illness who had a close contact that attended the Generations Church Conference.
Measles patients often feel ill enough to seek medical care before the onset of rash. Evaluate possibly exposed persons with compatible symptoms immediately. Complications of measles include otitis media, bronchopneumonia, laryngotracheobronchitis, diarrhea, and encephalitis. Individuals with measles are typically contagious from 4 days before rash onset through 4 days after rash onset. The incubation period is approximately 10 days (14 days to rash onset; range 7-21 days). Suspected measles cases should be instructed to wear a mask covering the nose and mouth, avoid public places, minimize contact with others, and stay out of patient waiting rooms.
If you suspect measles and/or would like assistance with diagnosis, please contact Public Health immediately by calling (206) 296-4774. We can facilitate specimen collection and rapid testing at a Public Health laboratory. Please report suspected cases immediately; do not send specimens to a commercial lab and do not wait for serologic confirmation to notify us.
Patient education material about measles
