Exposure Alert: Snohomish and King Counties (January 2026)
If you visited SeaTac Airport, the Mukilteo-Clinton Ferry, or specific spots in Everett/Marysville between Dec 27, 2025, and Jan 1, 2026, you might have been exposed to measles.
- Status: Outbreak declared Jan 15, 2026, in Snohomish County (3 confirmed child cases).
- Risk: High if unvaccinated. The virus hangs in the air for 2 hours after an infected person leaves.
- Action: Check your MMR records immediately. If you have a fever or rash, call your doctor—do NOT just walk into a waiting room.
Am I Safe? (Check These Locations)
You are considered “exposed” if you were at these specific places during these times. The virus was brought in by a family traveling from South Carolina (where there’s a larger outbreak right now).
Confirmed Exposure Sites (Dec 27 – Jan 1):
| Location | City | Date | Exposure Window |
| SeaTac Airport (N Concourse/Green Train) | SeaTac | Jan 1 | 7:00 AM – 11:15 AM |
| Rental Car Shuttles (To/From SeaTac) | SeaTac | Jan 1 | 6:45 AM – 9:00 AM |
| McDonald’s (128th St SW) | Everett | Dec 27 | 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM |
| Slavic Christian Church Awakening | Mukilteo | Dec 28 | 2:00 PM – 6:30 PM |
| Flying Squirrel Trampoline Park | Everett | Dec 29 | 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM |
| Chick-fil-A (36th Ave) | Marysville | Dec 29 | 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM |
| Fisherman Jack’s | Everett | Dec 30 | 6:00 PM – 9:30 PM |
Note: If you were at Swedish Mill Creek on Jan 13, you also need to watch for symptoms until Feb 3.
What If I Was There?
First, don’t panic, but don’t ignore it. Measles is sneaky.
- Check Your Vax Status: If you’ve had two doses of the MMR vaccine, you’re 97% protected. You’re likely fine.
- Calculate the Dates: Symptoms usually show up 7–21 days after exposure.
- Exposure at SeaTac (Jan 1) → Watch for symptoms until Jan 22.
- Exposure at Swedish Mill Creek (Jan 13) → Watch until Feb 3.
- Isolate if Sick: If you start feeling “off”—fever, runny nose, red eyes—stay home.
Recognizing the Symptoms (It’s Not Just a Rash)
People always wait for the spots, but the infection actually starts like a nasty flu.
- Days 1–3: High fever (can spike to 104°F), cough, runny nose, and watery red eyes (conjunctivitis).
- Days 3–5: Tiny white spots (Koplik spots) might appear inside the mouth.
- Days 4+: The famous red, blotchy rash starts at the hairline and spreads down to the neck, trunk, and legs.
Why Is This Happening Now?
It’s a domino effect. South Carolina is dealing with a massive outbreak (over 500 cases), and travel brings it here. We saw this back in 2019 in Clark County—when vaccination rates dip even slightly, measles finds the gap. It’s incredibly efficient; it finds the unvaccinated kid in the room almost every time.
Practical Steps: What to Do Right Now
- If you have symptoms: Call the Snohomish County Health Department line at 425-339-3503 or your GP. Tell them clearly: “I may have been exposed to measles.” They will arrange a safe way to test you so you don’t infect the whole waiting room.
- If you are unvaccinated: It might not be too late. Getting a vaccine within 72 hours of exposure can sometimes prevent illness, but since we are past that window for the holiday exposures, your best bet is getting vaccinated now to protect against the next wave.
- If you have a baby (<1 year): They can’t get the standard dose yet. Keep them away from public crowds in Snohomish/King counties for the next couple of weeks if you can.