This is a press release from King County.

Risk to general public is low

KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON – Local public health officials have learned of a confirmed case of measles in a King County child who was exposed while outside the United States.  The child developed a measles rash on Monday, February 15 after arriving in King County on February 12.  The child was contagious during travel, and had health care visits and community exposures subsequently.  The child was hospitalized during the illness and is recovering.

Because most people in our area are vaccinated against measles, the risk to the general population is low.  Persons who are unvaccinated, pregnant women, infants less than six months of age and persons with weakened immune systems are at higher risk if exposed to measles and should contact their health care providers promptly if they develop an illness with fever or an unexplained rash illness.

The period of time when members of the public could have been exposed is February 12 through February 15.  If they become ill with measles, they would be expected to develop rash onset between February 19 and March 8.

Public Health notified affected healthcare facilities and locations where community members may have been exposed.

Persons who were at the following King County sites between February 12 through February 14 (times noted) were possibly exposed to measles:

February 12, 2010

SeaTac Airport    11:15 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Arrival on American Airlines, Concourse A, and baggage claim area

Mercy Vet   2:15 p.m.-5:00 p.m.

2707 76th Avenue SE
Mercer Island, WA 98040

February 13, 2010

Target-Westwood Village 9:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

2800 SW Barton St
Seattle, WA 98126

QFC-Westwood Village 10:00 a.m. -12:30 p.m.

2500 SW Barton
Seattle, WA  98126

February 14, 2010

PCC-West Seattle 11:00 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

2749 California Ave. S.W.
Seattle, WA 98116

Target-Westwood Village 11:45 a.m. -2:00 p.m.

2800 SW Barton St

Seattle, WA 98126

Mayuri Food and Video 3:30 p.m. – 5:45 p.m.

2560 152^nd Ave NE

Redmond, WA 98052

People who may have been exposed are asked to look out for symptoms and contact their health care provider if they become ill.

Background on measles

Measles, also known as rubeola, is a highly infectious and usually severe illness that causes fever, rash, cough, and red, watery eyes. The rash begins on the face and spreads to the rest of the body. Fever (often greater than 101° F), cough and other symptoms begin two to four days before the rash appears.

People are immune to measles if they had measles or were properly vaccinated. People who lack immunity can get measles if exposed. Exposed people who are either not immune or unsure of their immunity should contact their health care provider. This is especially important for people at the greatest risk for severe illness: those under one year of age, pregnant women, and persons with weakened immune systems.

Measles symptoms begin seven to 21 days after the exposure to measles occurred.  Measles is contagious from approximately four days before the rash appears through four days after the rash appears. People can spread measles before they have the characteristic measles rash.

Measles spreads easily among susceptible persons and can result in serious infections complicated by pneumonia, encephalitis, seizures, and death. Most persons born before 1957 had the disease in childhood, and younger persons are routinely vaccinated against measles, both of which provide protection against the disease.

Persons with possible measles should call their health care provider before coming in to be seen to avoid exposing other vulnerable patients, and should wear a mask covering the nose and mouth, avoid public places, and minimize contact with others.

For more information about measles, a fact sheet is available in multiple languages at: http://www.kingcounty.gov/healthservices/health/communicable/diseases/measles.aspx

For measles or other immunizations, contact your health care provider.

For help finding a doctor, please call:

Community Health Access Program (CHAP): 206-284-0331 or 1-800-756-5437   CHAP staff can refer you to a local a Public Health Family Health Clinic and/or a Community Health Clinic. These clinics offer full health services, including immunizations. If you do not have medical coverage, clinic fees are based on your income.

Enumclaw trainer Frank Lucarelli has entered Gallant Son to run in the Strub Stakes, Gr. 2, Saturday at Santa Anita Park.

The 1-1/8 mile $200,000 stakes will be the Pro-Ride surface main track.

The 4-year-old son of Malabar Gold won the $100,000 Gottstein Futurity as a 2-year-old at Emerald Downs and ran second in the Sir Beaufort Gr. 3 Dec. 26 at Santa Anita Park.

Alex Solis will be in the iron for owners Chris Randall from Bellevue.

Tate Latimer signed a letter of intent to run track at the University of Washington next year.

The Tahoma High senior competed in hurdle and relay event at the state tournament last year. She took the bronze medal in the 100 and 300 meter hurdles at state in 2009.

Look for a story with pictures taken by her father, Steve, posted on the Web and in the Feb. 11 print edition.

The following a press release from the Washington state congressional delegation. It was sent by Eli Zupnick, deputy press secretary for U.S. Sen. Patty Murray.

Letter to Army Corps of Engineers calls for speedy completion of study to ensure safe and permanent fix to Howard Hanson Dam, requests follow-up from Corps leadership

Today, Senator Patty Murray, Senator Maria Cantwell, Congressman Adam Smith, Congressman Dave Reichert, Congressman Norm Dicks, Congressman Jim McDermott, Congressman Jay Inslee, and Congressman Brian Baird, and Congressman Rick Larsen sent a letter to Lieutenant General Robert Van Antwerp urging the Army Corps of Engineers to continue working at full speed to complete the study phase of the Howard Hanson Dam fix and move into the design and construction phase of the project.

The delegation called on the Corps to explain in full how they plan on completing the study phase by June, 2010 in order to ensure that the project can be considered for fiscal year 2012 construction funding. The delegation also requested a meeting with Major General William T. Grisoli, Deputy Commanding General for Civil and Emergency Operations, to review this timeline and impress upon him the importance of this project for families and businesses in the Green River Valley. Members of the delegation also requested a conference call with Army Corps leadership and local officials to discuss the Howard Hanson Dam project and give them an opportunity to ask additional questions.

“Our priority at the federal level is to achieve the safest and fastest permanent fix to the Howard Hanson Dam, which requires no delays in the study, design, and construction of the project…This decrease in the probability of flooding is a critical achievement. However, it is difficult for those who live, work, or own businesses in the Green River Valley to rest easy until the full protection offered by Howard Hanson Dam is restored.” the members of the delegation said in the letter.

The full text of the letter follows:

February 4, 2010

Lieutenant General Robert Van Antwerp

U.S. Army Chief of Engineers and Commanding General

U.S Army Corps of Engineers

441 G Street, NW
Washington, DC 20314-1000

Dear Lieutenant General Robert Van Antwerp

A little more than one year ago, severe storms and record water levels held behind Howard Hanson Dam damaged the dam’s earthen abutment, resulting in a reduction in the amount of water that can safely be stored behind the dam. Left unchecked, the flood protection the dam could provide at that point in time was estimated at a one in three probability of flooding.

Since that time, the federal, state, and local governments have worked together to provide interim measures of protection until a permanent fix for the dam can be fully implemented to restore flood protection to the full authorized levels.  Progress has been made and due to those interim measures, including the completion of the grout curtain,  work on the dam’s drainage tunnel, repair and improvement of levees, and deployment of flood barriers in the most vulnerable areas, the estimated probability of flooding has decreased to one in thirty.  This decrease in the probability of flooding is a critical achievement. However, it is difficult for those who live, work, or own businesses in the Green River Valley to rest easy until the full protection offered by Howard Hanson Dam is restored.

Our priority at the federal level is to achieve the safest and fastest permanent fix to Howard Hanson Dam, which requires no delays in the study, design, and construction of the project.  It is our understanding that the study phase of the project is progressing at an aggressive pace and has a goal of completion in June of this year.  Given the realities of the federal budget process, it is imperative the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) achieve this goal in order for the construction project to be included in the fiscal year (FY) 2012 President’s budget submission to Congress. Furthermore, the completion of the study in June provides ample time for the USACE to focus efforts on the design phase of the project for the remainder of FY2010 through FY2011, allowing for full advantage to be taken of construction funds in FY2012. We would like clarity on the policy regarding the progression of construction projects as they move from the completion of a study into the design and engineering phase.

To review this timeline, the ultimate completion of the project, and to discuss the importance of achieving it, we respectfully request a meeting with Major General William T. Grisoli, Deputy Commanding General for Civil and Emergency Operations.  We view his experience as former Commander of the Northwestern Division as an invaluable asset.  This experience affords him a local perspective of the importance of Howard Hanson Dam, not only to those living downstream but for the economic engine it protects in the region.  We are looking forward to working with Major General Grisoli as well as we did with his immediate predecessor, Major General Temple.

Additionally, we request the participation of a member of your direct team in a conference call with our local elected leaders. The inner workings of the USACE are not an intuitive process and leaves those working through it with many questions. In particular, it has become evident that prior experience with the USACE does not directly translate when working on a dam safety project.  It would be most helpful to have these important differences acknowledged and directly addressed in a forum that offers time for questions to be asked and answered by the USACE with one voice.

We are acutely aware that a permanent fix for Howard Hanson Dam is not a simple task and that such construction projects take time to execute properly and safely.  Thank you for your attention to these requests.  We look forward to your response regarding the timeline as we have laid it out and the immediate next steps necessary to achieving it.