No new measles cases

Health district remains on alert

GRANT COUNTY - No new measles cases were reported to the Grant County Health District since June 10.

Grant County Health District Administrator Peggy Grigg stated the agency would stay on alert through July 12 or longer if additional cases arise.

A total of 19 cases were reported to the health district in 2008. All inflicted people are Moses Lake residents.

The outbreak began when eight children in one family contracted the illness, which the health district reported April 29. The number of reported cases increased, with three Moses Lake Christian Academy students and one Covenant Christian School student contracting the illness.

The Grant County Health District encourages all children and non-immune adults to be immunized. Vaccines for measles, mumps and rubella are recommended for children 12 months old. A second dose is recommended at least four weeks later but is typically done at age 4.

According to the health district, individuals who are considered immune to measles should have one of the following:

• Two measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccines

• A medical history of having the measles

• Laboratory testing which shows measles immunity

"In general, individuals born before 1957 are considered to be immune, but if they are working in health care settings or other settings with high levels of public contact, the above criteria would apply," the health district advised.