Hundreds Exposed To Measles In CA Amid Global Uptick: Health Advisory

CALIFORNIA — As federal health officials warn of a spike in measles cases around the country Wednesday, California health officials are working to contain the disease after hundreds of people were exposed to measles at a hospital and at a restaurant.

Measles cases are on the rise both domestically and globally, with 58 confirmed cases in 17 states, including California, in the first three months of the year.

The 58 cases reported as of Thursday, March 14, are equal to all cases reported in 2023, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Monday in an advisory to healthcare providers. The agency said 93 percent of the measles cases were linked to international travel, and that destinations such as Austria, the Philippines, Romania and the United Kingdom are all experiencing measles outbreaks.

Earlier this month, hundreds of people at the UC Davis Medical Center were exposed to measles after a child who was infected with the virus was seen at the hospital, according to Sacramento County Public Health. People who were unvaccinated for measles at the hospital were at risk of developing the virus for up to 21 days following exposure.

Another case of possible exposure was reported in Alameda County at a restaurant on March 9. In February, an infected international traveler landed at Los Angeles International Airport and headed straight to a Los Angeles area fast food restaurant, prompting health officials to track a trail of potential exposures.

As of March 16, there have been four confirmed cases of Measles in California. That is as many as there were in all of 2023 in the Golden State. In recent years, measles cases dropped in California after large outbreaks triggered changes to the state's vaccination requirements for school-aged children.

In the winter and spring of 2014-15, at least 131 California residents were infected in a large measles outbreak associated with Disneyland, according to the California Department of Public Health.

In 2019, there were 73 confirmed measles cases in California, including 41 cases associated with six outbreaks, according to the state health department. Of the six outbreaks, five were linked to patients with international travel, and the largest outbreak involved 21 cases stemming from transmission in a healthcare setting.

Other states reporting cases this year include Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York City, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington.

Most U.S. measles cases this year are among children around 1 year of age who have not yet had measles-mumps-rubella, or MMR, vaccinations, the CDC said.

The CDC typically recommends two doses of MMR vaccine, the first at age 12 to 15 months and the second at 4 to 6 years or before starting school for the first time.

In its advisory, the agency recommended vaccinations for children 6 months and older who will travel internationally and for all children who are 12 months old, regardless of travel plans.

A person infected with the highly contagious viral disease can spread it to 9 out of 10 unvaccinated people they come in contact with, the CDC said.

Vaccinations have reduced the risk of measles in most U.S. communities, but pockets of the country continue to have low vaccine coverage, leaving some areas at higher risk for outbreaks.

As of the beginning of the 2022-23 school year, 93.1 percent of incoming kindergarten students had received the necessary doses of MMR vaccine, according to CDC data. In California, 96.5 percent of kindergarteners received their MMR shots.

Vaccination requirements for school entry may differ depending on the state. However, all states except Wyoming require two doses of measles vaccine.

The early symptoms of measles include a high fever, cough, runny nose, and pink eye, which can last for about two to four days before a rash appears. The incubation period for measles, from initial exposure to fever, is usually around 10 days. The rash typically starts about 14 days after the initial exposure.

The virus responsible for measles is transmitted through direct contact with infectious droplets or by airborne spread when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes. It can remain infectious in the air and on surfaces for up to two hours after an infected person has left. Infected people are contagious four days before the rash starts through four days after.