Oregon's Measles Outbreak Impacts 30 Unvaccinated People

The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) has reported four new measles cases in 2024, bringing the total to 30 across three counties. Marion County has the most cases, followed by Clackamas County and Multnomah County.

As of August 21, 2024, all measles patients were unvaccinated, and twelve were younger than ten.

These counties and OHA have been sharing information with the public so “we can let members of the public know they may have been exposed to measles,” Clackamas County Health Officer Sarah Present, M.D. said in a recent press release.

Dr. Present noted that since measles is so contagious, an estimated 96% of the population needs to have received two doses of measles vaccine to protect the community's most vulnerable members via community or “herd” immunity.

In Oregon, measles vaccines are available at health clinics and local pharmacies.

As of August 15, 2024, the U.S. CDC confirmed that 27 U.S. jurisdictions reported 219 measles cases this year. In 2023, 20 jurisdictions reported 59 measles cases for the entire year.