Snohomish County is currently facing a concerning health crisis as the local Health Department has reported the confirmation of three additional cases of measles. These new infections are linked to a family visiting from South Carolina who were contagious during their stay in the area.
The emergence of these cases indicates that measles is now spreading within the community, which the health authorities classified as an outbreak. On January 14, it was disclosed that three children had tested positive for the measles virus after exhibiting symptoms such as fever, cough, and rashes typical of this highly infectious disease.
Importantly, these children were not vaccinated against measles, making them particularly vulnerable to infection. Dr. James Lewis, the Snohomish County Health Officer, expressed concern about the potential for further cases, stating, "We anticipate additional instances of measles due to prior exposures and the recent outbreak cases. Our goal is to contain the spread, but given the number of exposure sites already identified, we suspect there may be more undisclosed cases in the community."
Fortunately, the general public's risk remains low, as many individuals have developed immunity to measles through vaccination efforts. The state health department was consulted prior to officially declaring the outbreak.
In the previous week, it was reported that one adult and two children from the same family were infectious while they traveled through King and Snohomish counties between December 27, 2025, and January 1, 2026. They visited several locations during their time in the area, including:
- McDonald’s in Everett at 128th St. SW on December 27, from 1 to 3 p.m.
- Slavic Christian Church Awakening in Mukilteo on December 28, from 2 to 6:30 p.m.
- Flying Squirrel Trampoline Park in Everett on December 29, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Chick-fil-A in Marysville on December 29, from 1 to 3 p.m.
- Mukilteo-Clinton Ferry on December 30, from 1 to 3 p.m.
- Fisherman Jack’s in Everett on December 30, from 6 to 9:30 p.m.
- Travelers utilizing rental car shuttles at the airport and the Consolidated Rental Car Facility in SeaTac on January 1, from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m.
- Seattle-Tacoma International Airport N Concourse, Gate N4, and the Green Train Line on January 1, from 7 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.
Further potential exposure sites related to the recent outbreak involving local children were identified as:
- Stellar Kids Dentistry on January 8, 2026, from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.
- Pathfinder Kindergarten Center in the Mukilteo School District on January 9, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m.
- Serene Lake Elementary School in the Mukilteo School District on January 9, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m.
- Swedish Mill Creek Campus medical facility on January 13, from 1:10 p.m. to 3:10 p.m.
It's crucial to understand that measles can be transmitted even before individuals are aware that they are infected or before any visible rash appears, highlighting the importance of vigilance in monitoring symptoms and seeking vaccination.
