4 measles cases reported in Snohomish County
Jan 16, 2026, 6:29 PM | Updated: 6:30 pm
A dose of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine is displayed at the Neighborcare Health clinics at Vashon Island High School on Vashon Island. (Photo: Elaine Thompson, The Associated Press)
(Photo: Elaine Thompson, The Associated Press)
A fourth measles case has been reported in Snohomish County in connection with a contagious family visiting from South Carolina, KIRO 7 reported Friday.
Three children had previously contracted the virus, the Snohomish County Health Department confirmed.
The department stated they were exposed to a family visiting from South Carolina. That family stopped in Marysville, Mukilteo, and Everett between Dec. 27 and Jan. 1. The three children tested positive on Jan. 14.
“These three new cases amount to an outbreak – a sign the disease is now spreading locally,” the Snohomish County Health Department said.
The South Carolina adult had at least one vaccine, but the kids were not vaccinated. Neither were the three Snohomish County children who are sick.
“We’re expecting more measles cases as a result of the previous exposures as well as these new outbreak cases,” Snohomish County Health Officer Dr. James Lewis said. “We are hoping to contain it, but unfortunately, there have been a number of exposure sites already, and there are likely more cases in the community that we do not know about yet.”
The largest active measles outbreak in the U.S. is in South Carolina, where 434 cases of measles have been reported since October, according to the South Carolina Department of Public Health.
“We’re concerned about the health and safety of our Snohomish County children,” Health Department Director Kim Van Pelt said. “Measles is a serious disease that often brings unpleasant symptoms, and in rare cases swelling of the brain and even death.”
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Locations of potential exposure
The infected children were at the following public locations before being diagnosed with measles:
Jan. 9 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. – Pathfinder Kindergarten Center (Mukilteo School District), 11401 Beverly Park Road in Everett
Jan. 9 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. – Serene Lake Elementary School (Mukilteo School District), 4709 Picnic Point Road in Edmonds
Jan. 13 from 1:10 p.m. to 3:10 p.m. – Swedish Mill Creek Campus medical facility, 13020 Meridian Avenue S. in Everett
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