One case of measles has been confirmed in Denton County raising the statewide total to seven, according to health officials.

The Oregon Health Authority reported that the number of measles vaccines in the last week of January tripled in the tri-county area (Multnomah, Clackamas and Washington counties).

"We're just happy that we're prepared and that there is vaccine available".

The vast majority of Vancouver-area cases were not vaccinated against the virus. In King County, the rise was a more modest 13 percent, from 3,960 doses to 4,480.

"Before the measles vaccine, we had an increase in measles, and then, when the measles vaccine was created, it started getting more and more people vaccinated", Beckham said. The vaccine can reduce the risk of infection if gotten within 72 hours after exposure to the virus. "The science is completely clear that childhood vax are not only good because they prevent all of these frightful illnesses, but they are also completely safe".

"These individuals did everything right", said Jennifer Vines, M.D., deputy health officer with Multnomah County.

"I would rather it not take an outbreak for this to happen", he said.

The reports in Texas come from Harris, Galveston, Montgomery and Bell Counties.

Wednesday, February 6, three of the four possible cases have been ruled out as measles.

On Wednesday, officials sent letters to families of 5,000 children in Multnomah County, telling them they'll be excluded from school if they don't have up-to-date immunizations or valid exemptions by February 20. All individuals are children that were either unvaccinated or had not completed the vaccine series.

The CDC said that at least eight other states have reported cases of the measles in 2019: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, New Jersey, New York and Oregon. Health officials say the shots are safe and effective, providing about 93 percent protection with one dose and 97 percent with two doses.

Five cases of measles have been confirmed across Texas as an outbreak of the disease continues to grow in Washington state.

Washington and OR are among 17 states that allow nonmedical exemptions from vaccination requirements for school entry, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.