By Aaron Allen, The Seattle Medium
Seattle Children’s Hospital and public health officials in Washington state are actively responding to a series of measles cases in the area, emphasizing the importance of vaccination and encouraging people to take necessary precautions when traveling.
So far this year, more than 150 cases of measles have been reported in several states, including Alaska and Washington. The first measles case of 2025 in Washington state, which was found in an infant, was confirmed by Public Health – Seattle & King County (PHSKC) on Feb. 27, 2025. Public Health – Seattle & King County is reminding the public to be aware of measles symptoms, including fever, pink eye, cough, and a red rash.
The second confirmed case was on March 18, 2025, in Snohomish County.
“There’s been now several cases of measles confirmed in Seattle,” says Dr. Shaquita Bell, senior medical director at Seattle Children’s Odessa Brown Children’s Clinic. “We are not nearly at the level of, like, Texas and some of the places we’re hearing about around the country, but there have been confirmed cases of measles in our community here.”
“[The] thing about measles, it’s very, very contagious,” added Bell. “It’s more contagious than COVID, more contagious than flu, more contagious than Ebola. It is a very serious infection because it can spread indoors—in lobbies, in malls, and stores.”
Medical experts say that herd immunity, which helps prevent rapid spread of diseases among a large population, requires about 95% of people to be vaccinated against measles because it is so infectious. Accordingly, two doses of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine provide about 97% protection against getting infected by measles, and that protection lasts a lifetime. However, officials warn that we may see more frequent and larger outbreaks of measles due to lower vaccination rates in recent years among children.
According to recent data from PHSKC, an estimated 87% of 2-year-olds in King County are up to date on the MMR vaccine (having received one dose), while an estimated 72% of 4–6-year-olds in King County have received two doses of the MMR vaccine.
Infants and children under 5 years old are at risk of severe disease from measles, and receiving one dose of MMR can provide crucial protection from complications. Children are eligible for a second dose of MMR at 4 years old.
“We know that we have a treatment to prevent kids and adults from getting measles, and that’s the MMR vaccine,” says Bell. “The normal time we give that vaccine is usually at 12 months and at 4 years old. We have really, really good evidence to show those are the great timing windows—at a year of age you’re starting to get your own immune system.”
Debra Berliner, special initiatives and communications team manager for the Immunization Program at Public Health – Seattle & King County, agrees with Bell’s assessment of just how infectious measles is. Particularly if one hasn’t been vaccinated or has never had the measles, the likelihood of contracting the virus increases exponentially.
“Measles is one of the world’s most infectious, most contagious diseases. Nine out of 10 people that don’t have immunity will catch measles if exposed to somebody with measles,” says Berliner. “Measles can live in the air for up to two hours. So that means if you walk into a store, an airport, a doctor’s office after someone has been in there with measles—even if they’re not in the room anymore—and you have not been vaccinated or have never had measles, you will most likely get measles.”
To help the community understand the measles virus and how to protect themselves and their families, medical providers assembled a list of ways the public can stay safe:
• Vaccination – Public health officials strongly urge everyone to ensure their MMR vaccinations are up to date, especially for children and those who haven’t been vaccinated. They emphasize that two doses of the MMR vaccine offer the best protection.
• Travel – Officials advise travelers to consult with their healthcare providers about necessary vaccines before international travel, especially for infants who may need an early dose of the MMR vaccine.
• Vulnerable Populations – Officials remind the public of the risks to vulnerable groups, including infants, pregnant individuals, and those with weakened immune systems.
As vaccinations have become somewhat of a political football, medical professionals encourage the community to stay focused and vigilant in protecting children and the broader community.
“The MMR vaccine is a safe, effective vaccine to protect our children and our community,” says Bell. “So. let’s not get into the propaganda, let’s not get into the politics, let’s really talk about truth and let’s talk about how we protect each other in our community so our next generation is alive and healthy.”
