EVERETT—The Snohomish County Health Department has confirmed three new measles cases this week in local children who were exposed to a contagious family visiting from South Carolina. These three new cases amount to an outbreak – a sign the disease is now spreading locally.
The children tested positive for the virus that causes measles on Wednesday, Jan. 14. They had experienced fever, cough and rashes consistent with measles. The children were unvaccinated for protection against the disease.
“We’re expecting more measles cases as a result of the previous exposures as well as these new outbreak cases,” said Snohomish County Health Officer Dr. James Lewis. “We are hoping to contain it, but unfortunately there have been a number of exposure sites already and there are likely more cases in the community that we do not know about yet.”
Dr. Lewis conferred with the Washington State Department of Health before declaring the outbreak. An outbreak is when three or more people in the same community get measles that has spread from one person to another.
Most people in our area have immunity to measles through vaccination, so the risk to the general public is low. Check your status for the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine. It is a safe and highly effective vaccine that lasts a lifetime and offers 97% protection.
If you are not immune to measles, or don’t know your vaccination status, please get vaccinated when you can and see the list below for locations and times of potential exposure.
Last week, the Snohomish County Health Department and Public Health – Seattle & King County were notified that three members of a South Carolina family – one adult and two children – were infectious while visiting King and Snohomish counties from Dec. 27, 2025, through Jan. 1, 2026. The family visited multiple locations in Everett, Marysville and Mukilteo while contagious – but before being diagnosed – with measles. They also traveled through Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and visited a car rental facility near the airport.
The largest active measles outbreak in the U.S. is in South Carolina, where 434 cases of measles have been reported since October, according to the South Carolina Department of Public Health Department.
“We’re concerned about the health and safety of our Snohomish County children,” Health Department Director Kim Van Pelt said. “Measles is a serious disease that often brings unpleasant symptoms, and in rare cases swelling of the brain and even death.”
For answers to frequent questions about measles, including how to protect your family if you’re traveling, visit the measles page on the Snohomish County Health Department website.
Locations of potential exposure to the public
Spread of measles can occur before people know they have the disease and before any rash appears.
The infected children were at the following public locations before being diagnosed with measles. These times include the estimated period when family members were at the location and two hours after. The measles virus can remain in the air for up to two hours after someone infectious with measles leaves the area. Anyone who was at the following locations during the times listed could have been exposed to measles:
- Jan. 9, 2026, 8:30 AM to 5:15 PM – Pathfinder Kindergarten Center (Mukilteo School District), 11401 Beverly Park Rd, Everett, WA, 98204
- Jan. 9, 2026, 8:30 AM to 5:15 PM – Serene Lake Elementary School (Mukilteo School District), 4709 Picnic Point Rd, Edmonds, WA 98026
- Jan. 13, 2026, 1:10 PM to 3:10 PM – Swedish Mill Creek Campus medical facility, 13020 Meridian Ave. S., Everett, WA, 98208
For potential exposure sites from when an infected family was traveling in King and Snohomish counties, see this Jan. 8 media release.
What to do if you were in a potential location with measles exposure
- Find out if you have been vaccinated for measles or have had measles previously. Make sure you are up to date with the recommended number of MMR vaccinations.
- Call a healthcare provider promptly if you develop an illness with fever or with an unexplained rash. To avoid possibly spreading measles to others, do not go to a clinic or hospital without calling first to tell them you want to be checked for measles after an exposure. It is also important to limit contact with others, especially those without known immunity.
About measles
Measles is a highly contagious and potentially severe disease that causes fever, rash, cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes. If one person has it, up to 9 out of 10 people nearby will become infected if they are not protected. It mainly spreads through the air after a person with measles coughs or sneezes.
The incubation period for measles is 10 to 14 days from exposure to onset of symptoms, with a range of 7 to 21 days. For people exposed at the schools, that would be through Jan. 30. For those who were at Swedish Mill Creek, that would be through Feb. 3. Measles is contagious from about 4 to 5 days before the rash appears through 4 days after the rash appears. People can spread measles before they have the characteristic measles rash.
Measles can lead to ear infections, diarrhea, pneumonia, and rarely, encephalitis (brain inflammation) or death.
Complications from measles can happen even in healthy people, but those at highest risk include infants and children under 5 years, adults over 20 years, pregnant people, and people with weakened immune systems from medications or underlying disease.
If you are in one of these high-risk groups and were exposed to measles at one of these locations, be sure to contact your health care provider to discuss any steps you need to take to protect yourself or loved ones against complications from measles.
For more information about measles and measles vaccination: https://www.snohd.org/460/Measles
Source: Snohomish County Health Department
Author: Lynnwood Times Staff
