A sixth-moth-old baby is the latest case of measles identified in King County. This is the fifth case in the county and eighth in western Washington this month.
According to King County Public Health, the child was exposed to someone who was contagious in her home and was not exposed to measles in public.
The child was taken to Seattle Children’s while she was contagious.
She was at Seattle Children’s emergency room Friday from 11 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. before she was diagnosed. The hospital is notifying patients and families who may have been exposed to measles in the emergency room during that time.
Officials say she didn’t visit any other locations at the hospital.
She is the fifth measles case in King County, including a Seattle tourist who came down with measles at the end of April; there has been one case in Snohomish County and two in Pierce County in the last two weeks.
The airport has been a common exposure site between at least six of the recent measles cases, according to the health department. However, health officials say they have no reason to believe there is increased risk of getting the measles by going to the airport.
Measles is highly contagious and causes fever, rash, cough, and watery eyes. Symptoms can begin seven to 21 days after exposure, and is contagious from about four days before the rash appears to four days after it ends.
The disease can be prevented with the MMR vaccine. In two doses, the vaccine is over 95 percent effective at preventing measles.