vashonbeprepared: Measles preparation and handling of power outages

Measles is one of the most contagious diseases in the world and is more contagious than influenza, covid and polio. It also has the risk of lung and brain infections, which can kill or cause lifelong disorders in children and adults. It was once believed that measles had been eradicated in the United States, but last month:

• King County reported the first measles incident in 2025. This is a toddler who may have been exposed while traveling abroad.

•A child died in the outbreak of measles in Texas, the first death of US measles in 10 years.

•Measles has been reported in nine states at outbreak levels in three states. Twenty percent of reported cases require hospitalization.

Most people who have acquired measles have not been vaccinated. Luckily, two vaccines provide 97% protection against measles. The vaccine is called MMR and represents measles mampsulvera. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends getting your first dose at 12-15 months before going to school, and a second dose at age 4-6.

“People checking for measles vaccinations people and their children have received. If you're not sure if the vaccine is appropriate, you should talk to your health care provider,” said Dr. Zach Miller, an infectious disease expert at Vashon Medical Reserve Corps.

Adults born before 1957 were diagnosed with the disease as they were presumed to have a natural immunity to measles as there was no vaccine to prevent infection at the time. Public health experts suggest that adults who received vaccinations before 1968 will get a different dose of the MMR vaccine, as the initial vaccine is less effective than later vaccines, without the natural immunity to measles. Finally, adults who received vaccinations between 1968 and 1989 received only one MMR vaccine.

Adults at high risk of developing illness (for example, those living in healthcare, international travel, or in communities with measles outbreaks) may wish to ask their healthcare providers about getting additional doses to ensure they are protected.

The MMR vaccine is available on Vashon Island.

•Vashon Pharmacy – Schedules and walk-ins. Call 206-463-9118 or visit vashonpharmacy.com.

•SEA MAR – Appointment with existing patient nurses and new patient providers. Please call 206-463-3671.

•Vashon Natural Medicine – Appointment of existing patients under the age of 18. Please call 206-463-4778.

• Vashon Island Fire & Rescue's Mobile Integrated Health allows home patients to be vaccinated by appointment. Call 206-463-2405 or visit vifr.org/mih.

You can check the state's vaccination registration register on MyRimobile.com to learn about the vaccines you and your child received in Washington, or ask your health care provider to check their records.

The CDC urges anyone exposed to measles to call their healthcare provider immediately. Of the 10 susceptible people who have close contact with the measles virus, nine are infected. If you are exposed to measles, have not been vaccinated or have previously had measles, you should contact your health care provider for 21 days after the last exposure to avoid contact with others to avoid infecting others.

Symptoms of the initial disease usually appear 7-14 days after exposure and include coughing, runny nose, red eyes, and fever that rises in a few days. This is followed by a rash that usually begins on the head and neck.

visit tinyurl.com/measles-symptoms For more information about measles symptoms and complications.

visit Defeat of tinyurl.com/measles The latest facts regarding the current occurrence of measles.

Power outage: Why does it take so long?

It's difficult when a storm defeats your electrical service. cold. Read with a flashlight. I do it without coffee in the morning. Power outages measured in days instead of time can be particularly annoying. You wonder: “What is taking so long?”

Answer: It is a complex, multi-step process that requires many highly skilled restoration crews working round-the-clock in dangerous conditions. Here is the step that Puget Sound Energy (PSE) follows during a major outage.

evaluation: Damage raters visit the first place that was damaged. Often, they groan downed trees, broken electric poles, and wires. They analyze what is needed to rebuild the damaged site. They can also first see things like landslides, impenetrable or narrow roads, or fallen trees that could change the way they approach repairs.

Priority: Priorities are planned. First, modify a high voltage transmission line that serves thousands or hundreds of thousands of customers. Next, a distributed substation gives the PSE link and switching capabilities to reroute power around damaged areas. Once power is restored to a typical area, crews can repair fallen or damaged wires between utility poles and homes and businesses. Electricity recovery priorities also apply to critical services such as hospitals and water/wastewater systems.

logistics: Based on the evaluator report, the utility's emergency coordination center moves the crew to the damaged location and begins ordering supply of wires, poles and transformers. When the damage becomes widespread, crews are often called out from out of state to assist in recovery efforts. Vegetation management crews must clean up fallen trees to allow access before restoration efforts begin.

construction: Once working safely, the crew begins a repair effort. Depending on the damage, this can include a variety of equipment, such as augers, to install new utility poles and bucket trucks to connect new power lines. Everything is done to ensure that the crew does not wait for the materials needed to repair and restore electricity. The crew will work around the clock until all power is restored.