Measles is a virus that can cause serious illness, especially in young children. Measles spreads easily from person to person. The virus can stay in the air for up to two hours after a person with measles coughs or sneezes. People who have had two doses of the MMR vaccine are at very low risk for getting measles.

Measles is now rare in the United States because of widespread vaccination efforts. No measles cases have been reported in Kitsap County since 2014. However, recent outbreaks in the United States and other countries have increased the risk for getting measles. Measles cases have been reported in Washington state in 2025.