Oregon Health Authority officials warned Monday of rising flu activity and record measles cases as the state's respiratory virus season began. The state has recorded 58 measles cases, the highest number since 1991, according to the agency.
Flu positivity in Oregon reached 3.2% in recent weeks, according to the state's health officer, Dean Sidelinger. While flu transmission remains low, the situation could change quickly, Sidelinger said during a media briefing.
The measles outbreak is particularly concerning because 96 percent of cases have occurred in unvaccinated persons or individuals whose vaccine status was unknown. Measles spreads rapidly in unvaccinated communities, according to the agency.
A summer surge in COVID-19 activity has leveled off, though it remains unclear whether the increase has peaked, according to the agency.
Officials recommended that people get vaccinated against COVID-19, influenza, RSV, and measles. Other preventive measures include staying home when sick, washing hands, covering coughs and sneezes, and considering masks when viruses circulate widely. Officials also advised knowing who is most vulnerable and acting early to protect infants, older adults, and people with certain underlying health conditions.
Dr. Dawn Nolt, a professor of pediatric infectious diseases at OHSU's Doernbecher Children's Hospital, said: "We want our kids to be where they belong: in school, with their friends, with their families, and making memories—not in bed sick or in a hospital."