Portland health brief: measles exposure alert, new aging-behavioral health grant, and animal shelter quarantine lifted

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Portland, OR – February 28, 2026 – Measles exposure alert tied to a metro ED visit; a new PSU-OHSU aging grant; county shelter lifts dog quarantine.

Measles exposure alert tied to Providence Willamette Falls ED visit

State and county public health officials issued a new measles exposure notice connected to a visit to the Providence Willamette Falls Medical Center emergency department waiting room in Oregon City late Wednesday, Feb. 25 into early Thursday, Feb. 26. The exposure window provided by officials runs from 9:57 p.m. to 12:22 a.m.

Health officials said anyone who was in that waiting room during the specified timeframe should contact a health care provider and report the possible exposure. The goal is to confirm whether a person is immune based on vaccination records, age, or lab evidence of prior infection, and to reduce the chance of additional exposures in medical settings.

Measles spreads through the air and can remain in the air for up to two hours after an infectious person leaves. Officials also reiterated that two doses of MMR vaccine are highly effective at preventing measles.

PSU and OHSU center wins $1.25 million 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 program is aimed at expanding a chronic disease self-management education effort tailored for older adults who are also navigating behavioral health challenges.

PSU said the initiative is designed to support older Oregonians facing depression and substance use disorders, with an emphasis on evidence-based health promotion strategies and broader statewide reach. Local health leaders have frequently pointed to workforce constraints and uneven access as barriers for older adults seeking behavioral health services, particularly when chronic medical conditions are also in the picture.

Multnomah County Animal Services reopens fully after canine illness outbreak

Multnomah County Animal Services reported that the Oregon Department of Agriculture lifted a quarantine that began Feb. 12 after the shelter identified an outbreak linked to Streptococcus zooepidemicus. The county said the shelter is now fully open for services, including dog adoptions and standard intake.

According to the county, two dogs died before the quarantine was initiated, and one additional dog was euthanized due to a declining condition with similar symptoms on the day quarantine began. The county said no further unassisted deaths were reported after the initial outbreak was identified.

Sources

https://www.oregon.gov/oha/ERD/Pages/OHA-Clackamas-County-announce-new-measles-exposure-site-02.26.2026.aspx
https://www.pdx.edu/news/psu-ohsu-center-awarded-125m-grant-expand-behavioral-health-support-older-oregonians
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/

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