Sequim Gazette staff

A 5-year-old, unvaccinated kindergarten student at Olympic Christian School in Port Angeles is reported to have been diagnosed with measles, a highly contagious disease transmitted by airborne exposure.

The child is the second local measles case in the past three weeks, Clallam County Health Officials report, and was directly exposed to the county’s first case, a 50-year-old Port Angeles man the last week of January.

Olympic Christian School officials are working with county Health Department staffers to determine which students are at risk of measles infection.

Health officials reported all students who can’t demonstrate proof of immunity to measles have been excluded from Olympic Christian School until Feb. 27, are placed in quarantine at home, must avoid public places and have no contact with people who are not immune to measles.

Students and teachers who have proof of immunity will return to classes on Tuesday, Feb. 17.Clallam County Health Officer Tom Locke said the Port Angeles man was placed in isolation at Olympic Medical Center and is recovering.

Dozens of people exposed to the man were placed in quarantine until their immunity was proven.

Those directly exposed to the 5-year-old child will be notified of their exposure, have their measles immunity assessed, and be advised of any necessary actions. Those who may have come into contact with the Port Angeles man may be susceptible to measles until Feb. 22.

Editor’s note: See a list of places he traveled below prior to isolation.

Symptoms and clinics

Children, adolescents or adults who develop a fever of 101 or greater followed by a generalized rash two to four days later may need to be evaluated for measles infection.

Health officials warn that under no circumstances should those with measles symptoms go directly to a health care provider’s office or to the emergency room because it will expose others to the infection.

Instead, they advise calling ahead to notify their provider that they have a rash illness, and receive instructions on how to be tested.

Clallam County Health and Human Services will continue to hold special measles (MMR) vaccination clinics at the Clallam County Courthouse, 223 E. Fourth St., Port Angeles.

Call 360-417-2274 to schedule an appointment.

All children, adolescents, college-age students, and health care workers should have at least two MMR vaccines.

Adults who are not health care workers should have at least one MMR vaccine.

Community members born before 1957 are presumed to be immune to measles.

A blood test is also available to determine if a person is immune to measles.Health officials said with a second case of measles and the possibility of more in the near future, all residents should assess whether they are immune to measles.

If they are in need of vaccination, they should make plans to receive it at their earliest opportunity.

Locke said more vaccinations have been sent to local doctors and pharmacies.

First case of measles’ locations

These are known locations Clallam County’s first case of measles traveled prior to isolation.

Tuesday, Jan. 27

• 3:30-5:45 p.m. at Wendy’s, 1830 E. First St., Port Angeles

• 4:45-6:55 p.m. at Mt. Pleasant IGS & Texaco Gas Station, 3010 E. U.S. Highway 101, Port AngelesThursday, Jan. 29

• 9:01-11:15 a.m. at Jamestown Longhouse Gas Station and Convenience Store, 271020 U.S. Highway 101, Sequim

• 3:19-5:30 p.m. at Mt. Pleasant IGS & Texaco Gas Station, 3010 E. U.S. Highway 101, Port AngelesFriday, Jan. 30

• 11:13 a.m.-1:23 p.m. at Mt. Pleasant IGS & Texaco Gas Station, 3010 E. U.S. Highway 101, Port AngelesKing CountyThursday, Jan. 29

• 11 a.m.-1:10 p.m. at SeaTac Rest Area (I-5 Northbound), Federal Way

• 11:25 a.m.-1:35 p.m. at Owen Equipment Company, 8721 S. 218th St., Kent

• 11:45 a.m.-1:50 p.m. at Bent Bike Motorcycle Salvage, 4337 Auburn Way North, Auburn.

Jail immunizations Clallam County Sheriff’s Office reports that they determined about 63 percent of Clallam County Jail’s population was at potential risk of the measles.

On Feb. 7, jail staff held a vaccination clinic for 63 inmates and three staff members receiving voluntary immunizations.

Jail Medical staff Doctors Peter Erickson and Art Tordini and Nurses Julia Keegan, Candace Priest, Dean Boggs led the immunizations with administrative assistance and security from Corrections Sergeant Luke Brown and Corrections Deputy Howard Blair provided administrative assistance and security for the vaccinations.

Follow up screening will be conducted as new prisoners arrive and measles vaccinations will be offered as needed.