Hospital workers did not immediately ID measles in Spokane

SPOKANE — Doctors at a Spokane hospital didn’t immediately realize they were dealing with a case of measles last week.

Officials for Providence Holy Family Hospital confirmed the man went to their emergency room on Thursday night and was discharged Friday morning.

The Spokesman-Review reports that by Sunday morning, the patient was back in the ER, when measles was identified as a possible diagnosis.

It’s the first case of measles in Spokane County in 21 years.

Spokane Regional Health District officials say the person was not vaccinated. They do not believe he or she has traveled outside the county.

Symptoms of the measles include high fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes and rash.

There were 32 measles cases in Washington last year. Nine have been diagnosed so far this year.