Health Officer Update: A thank you to public health workers and an update on measles cases

3 days ago
3 min read

Dr. Herbie Duber is the health officer for Kitsap Public Health District. In addition to his work in public health, Dr. Duber serves as a professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of Washington and is an attending physician at UW Medical Center and Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.

Hello and welcome to my April Health Officer Update.

First, I want to take a moment to recognize the incredible staff at Kitsap Public Health District and those who support public health in our county and across the state.

This week (April 6-12) is National Public Health Week. The theme this year is “Ready. Set. Action!” It’s an opportunity to reflect on the progress we have made and chart our path forward to a healthier future.

Public health is a difficult profession. We often work behind the scenes to prevent illnesses and injuries. You’re able to go to a restaurant and eat safely because of the work our team does. You're able to drink clean, healthy water because of the work that our team does. Your kids are able to go to school safely because of the work that our team does. The list of local public health impacts is endless.

Please join me in thanking our employees who work day-in and day-out to keep this community safe.

You can visit our blog to learn more about how public health benefits our community and see daily National Public Health Week highlights.

The latest on measles in Washington

This section was updated April 9 with new case information.

Unfortunately, we continue to see cases of measles in Washington. Since the start of the year, 33 cases of measles have been reported in the state and three people have been hospitalized for measles.

Twenty-one cases were connected to outbreaks, including a Snohomish County outbreak that has thankfully been declared over. More recent cases were reported in Walla Walla County, Kittitas County, and King County.

No cases have been reported in Kitsap County this year. Our Health District team works diligently to respond to any reports of potential measles exposures, and they have done a fantastic job.

I want to reinforce that the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine is very safe and effective. Of the measles cases reported in Washington, only one was fully vaccinated. Another 27 cases were unvaccinated and the vaccination status for four was unknown.

The best thing you can do to protect your family from measles is to check your immunization records and make sure you are up to date on MMR. You can reach out to Kitsap Public Health at 360-728-2007 if you need help finding your records or getting a vaccination appointment.

Learn more and keep in touch

You can watch my full report to the Kitsap Public Health Board by clicking on the video below or on Vimeo. You can read past Health Officer Updates on our blog.

https://vimeo.com/1180994726