Health officials say a casual bowl of noodles or a coffee run may have come with an unwanted side of measles exposure last week in east and west metro Portland. The Oregon Health Authority and local health departments have added a downtown Gresham pho shop, a West Linn café and later a Portland hospital emergency waiting room to a growing list of public exposure sites. Anyone who was at those locations during the listed time windows is being urged to call their health-care provider and keep a close eye out for symptoms.
Where and when you may have been exposed
Officials named two restaurant locations: Pho.Com, 316 N. Main Ave. in downtown Gresham, between 4 and 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 25, and Lark Café, 1980 Willamette Falls Dr. in West Linn, between noon and 3 p.m. on Friday, March 27. Providence Portland Medical Center’s emergency waiting room was also flagged for possible exposure on March 30 between 7:57 p.m. and 10:08 p.m., according to OPB.
A confirmed case tied to an earlier Gresham exposure
Multnomah County reports that it has confirmed one measles case connected to an exposure at the WinCo Foods on Southeast First Street in Gresham on March 7. The person had previously received one dose of the MMR vaccine and is cooperating with investigators. "Measles is an extremely contagious disease that can be prevented by routine childhood vaccination," Multnomah County Health Officer Dr. Richard Bruno said in the release. County officials are asking anyone who might have been exposed at that site to monitor themselves for 21 days after the exposure window.
How measles spreads and who’s most at risk
Measles spreads through the air after an infected person coughs or sneezes and a person can be contagious for four days before a rash appears and up to four days afterward. Virus particles may hang in the air for up to two hours. Symptoms usually start seven to 21 days after exposure and include fever, cough, runny nose and red eyes. Serious complications, such as ear and lung infections, and more rarely swelling of the brain, are more likely among young children, older adults, pregnant people and those with weakened immune systems, according to the Oregon Health Authority.
What to do if you were at one of the sites
If you were at any of the listed locations during the exposure windows, officials say you should call your health-care provider and mention the possible exposure before you show up so staff can arrange a safe entry plan. Families who do not have a primary care provider can establish care through Multnomah County’s clinics by calling 503-988-5558 to schedule a new‑patient appointment, county officials note.
People who are not immune may be eligible for post‑exposure prophylaxis, which can include an MMR vaccine if given within 72 hours or immune globulin if given within six days. Public-health authorities say those steps can prevent infection or lessen how severe the illness becomes, in line with Multnomah County guidance and CDC recommendations.
The restaurant and hospital exposure notices come amid increased measles activity across Oregon; reporters have noted at least 11 confirmed cases in the state so far this year. Public-health leaders are again stressing that staying up to date on the MMR vaccine is the best protection and that anyone with questions should contact their provider or local health department. Initial reporting on the downtown Gresham restaurant exposure appeared in the Portland Tribune.
