People who visited Kaiser Permanente Sunnyside Medical Center’s emergency department last weekend may have been exposed to measles, Oregon health officials said Wednesday.
The possible exposure is linked to a newly confirmed measles case in Clackamas County, the second reported in the county this year, according to the Oregon Health Authority. The county’s first case of 2026 was confirmed earlier this month.
Measles is among the most contagious viruses and spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Virus particles can linger in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves an area.
Health officials said anyone who was in the emergency department at Kaiser’s Sunnyside Medical Center, 10180 S.E. Sunnyside Road, between 11:28 a.m. and 1:53 p.m. on Jan. 26 could have been exposed.
Anyone who was there during that time should immediately tell their doctor they may have been exposed to the measles virus, the health authority warned. Their doctor will then be able to determine whether they are immune to the virus based on their vaccination record and other factors.
The latest infection marks the state’s fourth confirmed measles case of 2026. The first three cases involved unvaccinated adults, including two in Linn County. It’s not clear if the latest case involves an unvaccinated person.
Measles symptoms typically appear seven to 21 days after exposure and often begin with a fever, cough, runny nose and red eyes, followed by a rash on the face that spreads to the rest of the body.
While most people recover from measles, the disease can lead to complications like pneumonia or cause brain swelling and even death. The disease is particularly dangerous for infants and people with weakened immune symptoms.
Meanwhile, measles has been on the rise nationally, with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recording the worst year for measles spread in more than three decades just halfway through 2025.
The agency reported 2,144 confirmed cases nationwide by the end of last year, including three deaths.
Oregon had just one confirmed measles case last year. But the state reported 31 confirmed infections in 2024, according to CDC data.
Vaccination remains the most effective protection, officials said. According to health authority, two doses of the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine are about 97% effective at preventing infections.
Officials also urged people who develop symptoms to take precautions. They said anyone who suspects they may have measles — especially if they were recently exposed — should not show up unannounced at a doctor’s office or urgent care clinic. Instead, they should call ahead so medical staff can take steps to prevent further spread in waiting rooms.