Traces of the measles virus were found in a wastewater sample collected earlier this month from a Marion County treatment facility, state health officials announced Friday.

The virus was detected during routine wastewater sampling on Oct. 6, according to the Oregon Health Authority. The detection suggests that at least one person had measles in the area, health officials said.

A single positive water sample “does not show whether there is ongoing risk to the community” and that it’s possible that a person with measles was just traveling in the area, health officials said.

Dr. Howard Chiou, medical director for communicable disease and immunizations at the Oregon Health Authority, said wastewater surveillance works “like a ping on a radar.” It can pick up low levels of a virus moving

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