The first measles case of 2025 was confirmed in Whatcom County on June 20 and a second person, a family member in the same household, later tested positive.
The Whatcom County Health and Community Services (WCHCS) Department is working closely with the Washington State Department of Health to identify anyone who may have come into contact with the highly contagious virus. One of the individuals may have exposed others at Family Care Network’s urgent care in Lynden between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. June 18.
WCHCS wrote in a June 23 news release that the risk to the public is still considered low.
Public health nurses are working to contact anyone they believe could’ve been exposed. If exposed and not immune, individuals would most likely begin to feel symptoms between June 25 and Wednesday, July 9.
Symptoms of measles include high fever, cough, runny nose, red and watery eyes, and a rash that typically begins on the face before spreading over the body.
These are the first confirmed measles cases in Whatcom County since 2014, according to WCHCS. Measles has been increasing in the U.S. this year, which public health officials attribute to lower vaccination rates.
Health care professionals are urging those who have not already gotten vaccinated against measles to do so.
“The best time to prevent measles is before you are exposed to it, and the most effective way to do that is by getting the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine,” Dr. Meghan Lelonek, co-health officer at WCHCS wrote in a statement. “Getting vaccinated not only keeps you safe but also helps protect others in your community who can’t get vaccinated, like babies who are too young and people with weakened immune systems.”
To report a measles case, call WCHCS at 360/778-6100.
