Dr. Richard Leman of the Oregon Health Authority discusses vaccinations and the Vancouver-area measles outbreak. Posted by The Oregonian on Tuesday, January 22, 2019

Another Vancouver-area child was diagnosed with measles Wednesday. That brings the total number of local measles cases to 68.

Clark County Public Health has also identified three more locations where people might have been exposed to measles:

The Vancouver Clinic Washougal, 291 C St., Washougal from 7:10 to 10:35 am Thursday, Feb. 14.

The Vancouver Clinic, 700 NE 87th Ave., Vancouver from 1:50 to 6 pm Monday, Feb. 18.

Burton Elementary School, 14015 NE 28th St., Vancouver on Monday, Feb. 11; Tuesday, Feb. 12; Wednesday, Feb. 13.

There is also one person suspected of having measles, but bloodwork has not yet confirmed the diagnosis.

The vast majority of the cases are in Clark County, but the outbreak has spread to four people in Oregon and one in the Seattle area.

Measles is a highly contagious virus that spreads through the air and can linger for up to two hours in an enclosed area. Nine out of 10 unvaccinated people who are exposed to the virus will contract it, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For every 1,000 people who get measles, one to two die.

The vast majority of people affected by the current outbreak were not vaccinated against the virus. Two people had one dose of the vaccine, which is 93 percent effective.

Two doses are 97 percent effective, and public health officials in Washington recommend that everyone who is unvaccinated or only received one get both shots to avoid contracting measles. The vaccine can reduce the risk of infection if gotten within 72 hours after exposure to the virus.

To help prevent further spreading of the disease, health officials ask that people who think they might have measles call their doctor or health care provider before going to a hospital or doctor’s office.

Clark County Public Health now maintains a daily call center for questions about the outbreak at 360-397-8021.