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Provider Digest | Volume 128

Date: 06/19/24

Multnomah County Public Health Alert: Measles Outbreak in Oregon

According to a Multnomah County Public Health Clinician Alert, three cases of measles in two different households have been identified in June 2024. Two cases of measles have been identified in a Clackamas County household. They were believed to have been exposed in Marion County between May 19 and June 4, 2024. The primary affected individual, an unvaccinated adult, was confirmed to have measles June 14. They developed a rash June 11. The location of exposure is currently unknown, which suggests there may be other unrecognized cases in Oregon. The second household member, an unvaccinated child, developed symptoms a few days later. Both individuals are recovering.

A third case of measles in Marion County is confirmed in a 4 year old child. This child also developed a rash on June 11, and may have been exposed in the same time frame.

We request that area clinicians:

  • Keep measles on the differential for patients who present with compatible symptoms, especially if they report an exposure and/or are unvaccinated for measles.
  • Immediately notify your infection prevention team and the local public health authority (health department) where the patient lives if you suspect measles. See 24-hour contact information under the Resources section below.
  • Encourage vaccination in individuals 12 months and older who have not started or completed measles vaccination. See full vaccination recommendations, including contraindications such as pregnancy.
  • Distribute this notification to clinicians in your organization and networks.

Public Health is working with the cases to identify and monitor close contacts. Exposures may have occurred during the cases’ evaluation and treatment. However, the healthcare facilities and the cases did take appropriate available precautions, so these exposures are likely low risk. People might have been exposed if they were in any of these areas during these times:

  • OHSU facilities
    • Richmond Clinic’s Urgent Care area – Wednesday, June 12, 4:40–5:40 p.m.
    • OHSU Emergency Department (adult area): Wednesday, June 12, 6:00 p.m. – Friday, June 14, 7:15 p.m. (Risk here is believed to be low, as patient was masked and airborne precautions were implemented promptly)
    • ED Imaging – June 12 around 6:25 p.m., again around 7:20 p.m., and the following day June 13 around 12:15 p.m.

Resources

Public information about the measles can be viewed and shared on the Multnomah County Health Department webpage.

Patients or clinicians may call their respective Local Public Health Authority’s Communicable Disease team if they would like to talk through their situation and get recommendations for next steps. Suspected measles cases may also be reported 24 hours a day via these same channels.

Clackamas County Health Department: Communicable Disease team 503-655-8411

Marion County Public Health Division: Communicable Disease team 503-588-5621

Multnomah County Health Department: Communicable Disease team 503-988-3406

Washington County Health Department: Communicable Disease team 503-846-3594

View the full Multnomah County Public Health Clinician Alert

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Lane County Behavioral Health Resource Networks

Lane County's Behavioral Health Resource Networks (BHRNs) are available to help with substance use peer services and entry to treatment and other supports. There are three BHRNs in Lane County.

If you have a patient you'd like to connect with behavioral health resources, contact a BHRN in your area:

Download this helpful flyer (PDF) with more details about services available at each BHRN.

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Indigenous Social Determinants of Health Training

Seven Directions: A Center for Indigenous Public Health, in partnership with National Network of Public Health Institutes, has developed a training on "Indigenous Social Determinants of Health."

The purpose of this training is to offer tribal and urban Indian public health departments an approach to develop and apply a health framework that is tailored to issues, contexts, and culture(s) represented in their community.

This training contains five modules designed to offer tribal and urban Indian public health practitioners with content and practice to map out their own Indigenous Social Determinants of Health framework. The modules use interactive and engaging activities and vignettes to develop an understanding of ISDOH at the individual, family, and community levels to consider connections to health and wellbeing.

You can learn more about the models and download training materials on the Indigenous Social Determinants of Health (ISDOH) Training Center website.

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Lane County Public Health Supports PeaceHealth Rides Bike Share System

How can health systems and community-based organizations work together to improve population health – and the health of patients?

Lane County Public Health (LCPH) is sure the clinical community is aware of the many benefits of physical activity. Many of you have probably seen, and perhaps tried, the PeaceHealth Rides Bike Share system available in Eugene and Springfield. But did you know that bike share memberships are free for folks enrolled in certain programs? Consider sharing information about PeaceHealth Rides with your patients:

  • Individuals 16 or older enrolled in the Oregon Health Plan (OHP), SNAP, TANF, WIC or who live in Affordable Housing can contact access@cascadiamobility.org about free memberships.
  • Support patient/client access to transportation needs, health, and wellness by connecting them to PeaceHealth Rides free bike share membership program.
  • If you are in the Eugene/Springfield area, contact Cascadia Mobility at access@cascadiamobility.org for flyers and other material to promote these programs.

Active transportation programs and bike share systems have positive effects on community and individual health. A recent study calculated that through positive impacts on physical activity, air pollution, and traffic incidents, current bike share systems in the U.S. have resulted in:

  • 4.7 fewer premature deaths each year
  • 737 additional Disability Adjusted Life Years
  • $36 million in health economic impacts

The average cost of car ownership in the US is around $12,000 per year per vehicle, making a bike share membership (even at $15/month) a much more accessible way to get around.

Cascadia Mobility is an independent Oregon public benefit 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Eugene that operates equitable shared and active transportation programs in the Pacific Northwest. Their mission is improving access to healthy, shared modes and active transportation. Cascadia Mobility partners with PeaceHealth, the City of Eugene, University of Oregon, and Lane Transit District to operate the PeaceHealth Rides Bike Share system. A partnership with Oregon Health Authority makes bike share memberships available at no cost to people enrolled in programs such as OHP. Lane County Public Health appreciates these partners for investing in infrastructure that improves the health of the entire community.

For more information, please contact Teresa Roark, MPH, LCPH Community Health Analyst.   

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