WHATCOM COUNTY, Wash. -- A 49-year-old Whatcom County resident has been diagnosed with the measles and people without immunity to measles may have been exposed, said Whatcom County Health Officer Dr. Greg Stern.

People who were at the Northwest Regional Laboratory at the Barkley Medical Center at the time the patient was there and within two hours after she left may have been exposed, Stern said.

The dates and times of potential exposure were:
Wednesday, September 3, 7:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
Friday, September 5, 12:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Saturday, September 6, noon to 2:30 p.m.

Those who may have been exposed and don’t have immunity to measles may develop the disease, Stern said.

Most of the patient's close contacts have been identified and notified. The general public is unlikely to have been exposed during the woman’s contagious period, except for the visits to the laboratory during the specified times.

Anyone with a fever and rash who was at the laboratory during the possible exposure times should contact the health department immediately at 676-6724 (daytime) and 715-2588 (after hours) and avoid contact with other people until evaluation is completed.

The Whatcom County Health Department is investigating the possible sources of her infection.

This is the first case diagnosed in Whatcom County since 1995, however there was a recent outbreak in Grant County, with 19 cases reported between April and May 2008, Stern said.