Oregon health officials warn measles cases could continue to rise

PORTLAND, Ore. (KATU) — Since the beginning of the year, 13 positive measles cases have been reported.

According to the Oregon Health Authority, most of those cases are due to people being unvaccinated or having an unknown vaccination status.

“This is well above our number for last year and is approaching our number that we saw in 2024 when we had an outbreak in the summer, and we’re only three months into this year,” Dr. Dean Sidelinger, with the Oregon Health Authority, said during a news conference on Friday.

The worry is that this number could grow, especially because OHA has released new exposure sites for the measles. One of these places is the Safeway at 2800 S.E. Hawthorne Blvd.

Officials say if you visited that Safeway at any of the following times, you may be at risk:

• Between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Thursday, March 26.
• Between 2 p.m. and midnight Friday, March 27.
• Between 2:20 p.m. and 6 p.m. Saturday, March 28.
• Between 2 p.m. and midnight Sunday, March 29.

Other exposure sites include the Lark Café in West Linn on March 27 and Pho.Com in Gresham on March 25.

If you’re worried about contracting the measles at places like Safeway or other exposure sites, Sidelinger says you don’t necessarily need to worry.

“It can linger in the air for a couple of hours after that, and that’s why we sometimes see these windows being a few hours long, because it’s when the person has spent time in those locations plus some time after they left, things that can help clear that from the space quicker,” Sidelinger said.

If you’re worried you’ve been exposed or have questions about the vaccine, you’re urged to contact your doctor.