WHATCOM COUNTY, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Whatcom County health leaders are warning of an increased risk of measles amid a nearby spike in cases.

Whatcom County Health and Community Services issued an advisory after a measles outbreak was declared in Snohomish County, the state’s first since 2023.

The department says there’s an elevated risk in our community since 86% of Whatcom County kindergarteners were vaccinated against measles as of the previous school year.

It says we need a 95% vaccination rate to prevent community an outbreak if the virus spreads to Whatcom.

So far, measles has only been detected in Snohomish, Kittitas and Clark counties across Washington.

It’s one of the fastest spreading diseases and can stay in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves.

The health department is reminding residents of its free vaccine clinic taking place in Bellingham next Tuesday.

You can find more information on the county’s website.