Yakima on Alert: Measles Returns as Contagious Virus Spreads Nationwide

It's a viral infection that medical experts call one of the most contagious and it's now impacting people in Washington State.

REMEMBER MEASLES? THE VIRUS IS BACK

The experts say Measles is now on it's way back to becoming a big problem.
A press release from the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention says more than 1,300 measles cases in the United States so far this year. They say because the virus is transmitted through the air, it is easy to catch in crowded places.

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 TEN CASES IN THREE COUNTIES

According to the Washington State Health Department there have been a total of ten confirmed cases in the state in 3 counties (King, Snohomish, and Whatcom). But so far there's been no outbreaks in the state this year. An outbreak is defined as 3 or more related cases.

SO FAR SO GOOD

Good news so far for Yakima. Stephanie Ruiz with the Yakima County Health District says while there are no local cases reported they're closely monitoring the situation.

THERE'S A VACCINE

“The only reliable way to prevent it is to receive the vaccine — in fact, for all of us to receive the vaccine.” says UW Medicine’s Dr. Paul Pottinger. “That way, we are less likely to spread it to other people and we're less likely to catch it from people, as well."

NO SAFE PLACE WITHOUT VACCINE

He says as summer travel continues there's really no safe place to travel to where you'll be safe unless you've been vaccinated.  When we travel, it's not only about what happens to us with measles risks when we arrive, but also the process of traveling to airports, trains, bus stations, being on a plane.”