Measles Exposure Site Identified; Animal Shelter Reopens; Behavioral Health Grant Announced
Portland, OR – March 7, 2026 – A new measles exposure site, a shelter reopening after quarantine, and a behavioral health grant lead local health updates.
Measles exposure tied to Oregon City emergency department
Oregon health officials have identified a new measles exposure location connected to the emergency department waiting room at Providence Willamette Falls Medical Center in Oregon City.
According to the Oregon Health Authority and Clackamas County, people may have been exposed if they were in the waiting room between 9:57 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 25, and 12:22 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 26. Health officials said measles spreads through the air and can remain suspended for up to two hours after an infectious person leaves the area.
Officials are asking anyone who was present during that timeframe to contact a health care provider to review their vaccination status or other evidence of immunity. They also advise calling ahead before visiting a clinic or hospital if measles symptoms develop, to reduce the risk of exposing others.
Multnomah County Animal Services reopens after quarantine
Multnomah County Animal Services has fully reopened following a quarantine linked to an outbreak of Streptococcus zooepidemicus, a bacterial infection affecting dogs.
The Oregon Department of Agriculture lifted the quarantine after it was put in place Feb. 12. County officials reported that two dogs died before the quarantine began, and one additional dog was euthanized due to a declining condition with similar symptoms on the day the quarantine started. No further unassisted deaths were reported after containment measures were implemented.
The shelter has resumed regular operations, including dog adoptions and standard intake procedures.
$1.25 million award to expand behavioral health support for older adults
Portland State University announced that the PSU-OHSU Oregon Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health & Aging received a three-year, $1.25 million award from the U.S. Administration on Community Living.
The funding is intended to expand chronic disease self-management education tailored for older adults who are also navigating behavioral health conditions, including depression and substance use disorders. University leaders said the initiative aims to broaden access to evidence-based health promotion programs across Oregon.
Local health leaders have cited workforce shortages and uneven access as ongoing barriers for older adults seeking integrated behavioral and medical care. The new funding is designed to strengthen statewide reach and support community-based services.
Sources
https://www.oregon.gov/oha/ERD/Pages/OHA-Clackamas-County-announce-new-measles-exposure-site-02.26.2026.aspx
https://multco.us/news/news-release-multnomah-county-animal-services-resumes-full-operations-dog-quarantine-lifted
https://www.kptv.com/video/2026/02/24/quarantine-lifted-multnomah-co-pet-shelter-after-outbreak-deadly-illness/
https://www.pdx.edu/news/psu-ohsu-center-awarded-125m-grant-expand-behavioral-health-support-older-oregonians
If you have urgent symptoms, seek medical care. For general questions, talk with a licensed clinician.
