The incubation period for the latest case of measles has ended without any additional diagnoses of the disease.
The first confirmed case of measles was a Clark County infant diagnosed Feb. 14 after returning from a family trip to India. The second case was a Vancouver teenager who was exposed to the contagious infant at a medical clinic. He was diagnosed March 3.
Measles has a seven- to 21-day incubation period, meaning people exposed to the disease may not show symptoms for up to three weeks after exposure. The incubation period for the second case ended Sunday.
“I’m hoping, being that we’re at the end of the incubation period, that we won’t have any more cases,” said Dr. Alan Melnick, Clark County’s health officer.
However, Melnick said he can’t rule out the possibility of another person coming down with the disease, which is highly contagious and affects the respiratory system.
“There could, theoretically, be someone who got the measles in the interim and never came to a physician,” he said. “There’s always that possibility, but it’s not likely.”
High fever, rash and other measles symptoms tend to prompt people to see a health care provider, he said.
Measles is rare in the United States because most people are vaccinated against the illness. Washington state requires children have two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine before beginning school. However, the state does allow for exemptions for medical, religious or philosophical reasons.
People are also considered immune to the disease if they’ve already had the measles or were born before Jan. 1, 1957.
“In 2011, we really shouldn’t be having any cases,” Melnick said.
Last week, Melnick testified in Olympia before the Senate’s Health and Long-term Care Committee in support of bills concerning immunization exemptions. The legislation — House Bill 1015 and Senate Bill 5005 — would require parents to get a signed doctor’s note confirming the parent had been informed of the benefits of vaccinations.
The bill would ensure that parents are receiving information from a reliable source before making a decision about immunizations, Melnick said. The bill would not eliminate exemptions, he said.
The recent cases of measles in Clark County have prompted parents in at least one medical clinic to get their children vaccinated. A physician at the Evergreen Pediatrics reported more parents, even those who were initially opposed to vaccines, bringing their children in to be immunized, Melnick said.
In addition to protecting oneself, immunizations also protect the rest of the community from disease, particularly those who cannot be vaccinated, Melnick said.
“My hope is we’re increasing the vaccination rates in the community and this is a lesson learned,” he said.
Marissa Harshman: 360-735-4546 or marissa.harshman@columbian.com.
