Measles Diagnosis Confirmed at Seattle Children’s

A pediatric patient was diagnosed with measles after being evaluated in Seattle Children’s Emergency Department. Staff successfully identified the patient through the standard screening protocols and immediately implemented appropriate infection control procedures, including isolating the patient and reporting to King County Public Health. The patient was not admitted to the hospital.

There are two potential exposure windows at Seattle Children’s on Wednesday, April 8:

• 2:55 to 5 p.m.: Forest parking garage, Forest parking garage elevators, Forest Pharmacy and Forest B level 1 lobby
• 2:55 to 6:40 p.m.: Emergency Department lobby

We are notifying patients and families who may have been exposed, providing information about the exposure date and disease symptoms.   

Washington’s Department of Health has a map of all public measles exposure locations across the state.

Directing Patients to Seattle Children’s Who May Have Measles

Many of the patients treated at Seattle Children’s are medically complex, immunocompromised and/or non-immune to measles. For that reason, we have patients who may have measles enter the Emergency Department by an alternate route. If you are considering sending a patient to Seattle Children’s with concern for measles, please note these important considerations and steps:   

• Contact Mission Control at 206-987-8899 prior to directing the patient to Seattle Children’s. The patient should remain at the referring facility so key information can be conveyed to them by their care team. If the patient has left the referring facility, we will need a contact number for them.
• The provider that is currently treating the patient should be the person contacting Mission Control so that our team can gather the most accurate clinical information and ask clarifying questions.
• We will work directly with you and the patient/family on facilitating evaluation and treatment, while reducing exposure. 
• If a patient/family will be arriving at the ED for further assessment or testing, ensure that they are instructed to wait in their car upon arrival. Someone will come outside to meet them and bring them inside.
• Please note that Mission Control is for provider-to-provider use only. Patients/families should not be directed to call this number.

Patients and Families Self-Screening for Measles

Seattle Children’s is updating measles screening signs at all clinical locations. These signs ask all patients and families to self-screen for symptoms and if they have recently traveled to areas with confirmed measles cases. Signs will remain in effect until further notice or when there are no active concerns for measles spread in the community.

About Measles

Measles is a highly contagious disease, but it is preventable with vaccines. A patient with measles can expose a large number of people within healthcare settings, so identifying potential cases early is crucial.

Measles symptoms include:

• Fever of more than 100.0° F (37.8° C)
• Cough
• Eye redness
• Runny nose
• Rash

Measles Resources for Healthcare Providers

• Measles One-Pager for Healthcare Providers (AAP)
• Measles - For Healthcare Professionals (CDC)
• Measles Specimen Collection Instructions for RT-PCR (DOH)
• Measles Specimen Collection Instructions for Serology (DOH)
• Immunization Schedules (CDC)
• Safety Information for Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) Vaccines (CDC)
• Recognizing Measles in Your Patients (Pediatric Pandemic Network)