‘I don’t foresee plague being an issue’: EvergreenHealth doctor points to measles as the bigger concern

An EvergreenHealth infectious disease physician is cautioning against drawing conclusions from reports of a suspected plague infection in Russia and urging patients to check their measles vaccination records and address gaps in protection.

Speaking with KIRO fill-in hosts Greg Tomlin and Angela Poe Russell on “The John Curley Show,” Dr. Jordan Braunfeld discussed reports of a Russian laboratory worker’s death and a suspected plague infection, warning that much of the information remains incomplete. He also described how the health system identifies and separates patients who may have measles from others seeking care.

Braunfeld addresses fears about Russian laboratory death

“It is confusing, mostly because we are not privy to all of the information, and I think that there has been a lot of speculation by various sources,” Braunfeld said.

He addressed comparisons with the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Anytime news like this comes out, people are naturally going to worry about whether there is another risk like COVID-19,” Braunfeld said. “Fortunately, the plague has very little in common with COVID-19. While it can cause respiratory illness, it has not spread nearly as easily as COVID-19.”

When asked about the laboratory’s research, Braunfeld declined to speculate.

“I personally have no experience working in this type of area,” Braunfeld said. “I don’t foresee plague being an issue that we will deal with on a larger scale here in the United States really anytime soon.”

Vaccination records help guide the response to exposure

On measles, Braunfeld stressed vaccination and documentation rather than relying on memories of childhood shots.

“Most people believe they got all of their childhood vaccines, but maybe aren’t 100% sure, especially folks who may be getting up there in years,” Braunfeld said. “Those immunizations may have happened a long time ago, and so for those who aren’t sure, we’re encouraging people to get another measles vaccine.”

He explained why having documentation matters when public health officials investigate a measles case.

“When a person has measles, public health becomes aware when that person is diagnosed. It’s reported to the county, the state, what have you,” Braunfeld said. “In response to that, that public health entity will try to find all of the people that that person may have exposed to measles to investigate to see if they need additional monitoring, if they need to be offered a vaccine or other medications to prevent the development of disease. When that happens, word of mouth is not enough to declare yourself immune. You have to have records of it.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recognizes several forms of evidence of immunity, including adequate vaccination records, laboratory evidence, and births before 1957. Its guidance does not call for a routine third measles dose after an adequately documented two-dose series.

EvergreenHealth focuses on identifying suspected cases early

Braunfeld described preparations for patients who arrive with symptoms that could indicate measles.

“We’re making sure that we know how to identify somebody who may have measles when they first come through the door,” Braunfeld said. “Measles is an extremely contagious condition, and we want to avoid any situation that might result in safety concerns for any of our patients.”

He discussed separating those patients from waiting rooms and evaluating them promptly.

“Even one measles case is an emergency in a lot of situations for health systems, for public health systems,” Braunfeld said. “The best way to keep yourself, your community, your home, your family safe is to make sure that you are protected by making sure that you’re vaccinated and making sure that those around you are vaccinated as well.”

Watch the full discussion in the video above.

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