Oregon has now recorded more measles cases in 2026 than in any year on record, and the virus has been detected in Washington County wastewater — a direct signal of local spread as Beaverton School District families prepare for the first day of school on Tuesday, Aug. 25.
The state confirmed 45 measles cases since Jan. 1, surpassing 2024's total of 31, the Oregon Capital Chronicle reported Aug. 13. In 2025, Oregon had just one confirmed case.
"It is more than likely that come this fall, we will officially lose our measles elimination status as a country," said Dr. Dean Sidelinger, Oregon's state health officer and epidemiologist, referring to a designation the U.S. has held since 2000.
Nearly half of the nation's 2,465 confirmed cases as of Aug. 6 occurred in people between 5 and 19 years old. That's school-age children.
What BSD families need to know
The district has warned that if a single measles case is confirmed at a school, public health officials will exclude all unvaccinated students and staff for at least 21 days. That applies to anyone with a medical or nonmedical exemption who cannot demonstrate immunity, according to BSD's measles prevention page.
Twenty-one days out of the classroom at the start of the year would mean missing nearly a full month of instruction.
BSD advises families to:
- Review their student's immunization records and confirm they are up to date at their school.
- Contact a healthcare provider or school-based health center with questions.
- Prepare for possible exclusion if their child is not immunized.
The Oregon Health Plan covers all children and teens under 19 who meet income criteria, regardless of immigration status.
Exemption rates climbing
Oregon requires two doses of the measles vaccine for kindergarten entry, but parents can opt out with a medical or nonmedical exemption. In the 2025-26 school year, nearly 11% of Oregon kindergarteners held nonmedical exemptions. Combined with medical exemptions, only 85.6% were up to date on required vaccines, well below the 93% threshold public health officials say is needed to prevent outbreaks.
In the 2024-25 school year, 93% of Washington County K-12 students were caught up on required vaccinations, according to Washington County Public Health. But only 79% of children ages 19 months through 5 years met the standard, the age group now entering BSD schools.
Nearly every Oregon measles case this year has involved someone who was unvaccinated, according to The Oregonian. Health officials believe the true number of infections is higher because some mild cases go untested.
Local spread confirmed
Public health officials have tracked measles in wastewater in at least four counties since Aug. 1, including Washington, Polk, Marion and Klamath. Sidelinger said wastewater detection means at least one infected person was living in the area recently.
As we reported July 28, a measles exposure was confirmed at Sky Zone Beaverton on S.W. Denney Road in mid-July, marking the virus's arrival in the community.
Local health departments are struggling to keep up. Multnomah County spokesperson Dennis Theriault said the county no longer has resources to treat every case as an immediate emergency after federal COVID-19 funding expired, and the Oregon Health Authority has scaled back its investigation guidelines to reduce the burden on local agencies.
One dose of the measles vaccine provides 95% protection. A second dose boosts effectiveness to 97% for life. Parents can look up vaccination rates by school on the Oregon Health Authority's website.
BSD's first day for students is Tuesday, Aug. 25.
