Health security

Measles outbreak prompts state of emergency declaration by Washington governor

The governor of Washington declared a state public health emergency Friday after more than two dozen measles cases have been reported, primarily affecting small children.

Governor Jay Inslee said in a statement that the Washington State Military Department and State Emergency Operations Center will be working with the Department of Health to combat the overwhelming influx of measles cases, of which there have been 32 as of Saturday, according to the DOH.

Those infected are primarily isolated to Clark County, in southwest Washington, which directly borders Portland, Oregon. One case has now reportedly spread to King County, which includes Seattle, Washington.

County officials revealed that people may have been exposed in at least one instance when an infected person attended a Portland Trailblazers home game. Other contagious people also visited the Portland International Airport, as well as hospitals, schools, churches and other busy public places.