SALEM, Ore. — Oregon health officials are tracking a measles outbreak with cases in Marion, Clackamas and Multnomah counties. As of Saturday, the cases have gone up to 15, with 9 of those from Marion County.
Despite a widely available vaccine, the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) says 15 unvaccinated people have been diagnosed since June, with 8 of those cases found in Marion County.
"This, unfortunately, is what we expect from measles," said Dr. Caroline Castillo, the public health officer for Marion County Health and Human Services.
Measles is a contagious virus that can spread through the air and is often identified by a red or pink rash.
"It spreads through the air," Castillo explained. "Even after a person leaves an enclosed space for about two hours, measles can still be in the air."
OHA said two of the people diagnosed were hospitalized but have since been released.
"The case in Multnomah County had traveled out of the country and probably acquired the illness there," Dr. Paul Cieslak said, "whereas the cases in Marion and Clackamas counties have not been out of the country, and they are probably getting it locally, which is why we believe that is where the current risk is."
On Friday, OHA said people may have been exposed to the virus if they were at these locations during these times on July 17:
- Waremart at 5450 River Road North, Keizer, between noon and 1:20 p.m.
- Walmart at 3002 Stacy Allison Way, Woodburn, between 1:15 and 2:35 p.m.
- Safeway at 1550 N. Pacific Hwy, Woodburn, between 2:40 and 3:05 p.m.
Cieslak, the medical director for communicable diseases and immunizations at OHA, called the outbreak "sizeable" but reminded people there's no need to worry if they're vaccinated.
Drop in vaccinations across Oregon
Cieslake and Castillo believe there are several reasons for the increase in measles cases, including a drop in vaccinations.
"There’s been an increase in nonmedical exemptions that we’re experiencing across Oregon," Castillo said.
According to a May press release from OHA, Oregon schools are seeing the highest-ever rate for nonmedical exemptions from school vaccination requirements.
"In 2024, 8.8% of kindergartners had a nonmedical exemption for one or more required vaccines, up from 8.1% in 2023 and 6.9% in 2022," the release reads.
"If we continue to have that percentage of kids not getting vaccinated and then they grow into adulthood without being immune, we're going to see sustained transmission of measles, which we really haven’t seen in decades," Cieslak said.
The trend is mirrored in Marion County. State data shows kindergarten nonmedical exemptions for the measles vaccine jump from 3.4% in 2021 to 4.1% in 2022 and 5.3% in 2023.
Castillo also attributes the rise in cases to fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, saying it's "the perfect storm."
"During the pandemic, routine vaccination rates dropped because people weren’t able to get in for well child checks," she said. "Our health care system was under strain."
She added that the state has also seen an increase in other communicable diseases like pertussis, also known as whooping cough.
Castillo is urging people who aren't vaccinated to consider it. Children are eligible for the first dose at 12 months; then the second dose follows between 4 and 6 years old.
"It’s an extremely effective vaccine," Castillo said. "It's safe, and it’s really the best way we have to protect our community right now."