There have been 37 cases of measles reported in California so far in 2019, according to county departments of public health throughout the state.
On Tuesday Sacramento County confirmed two cases of measles in a family that had recently travelled internationally, the first reported cases this year in the county.
Butte County has the highest number of cases in the state currently, with 11 reported so far. Placer, Shasta, Los Angeles, San Mateo, San Francisco, Santa Cruz, Tehama, Calaveras and Santa Clara counties have also reported cases.
Many of the cases reported have been in counties with relatively small populations. Butte County has nearly 5 cases per 100,000 residents, while Shasta and Calaveras counties have about 2 cases per 100,000, according to 2017 population counts.
Measles spreads easily by air, and those who develop an illness with a high fever, cough, runny nose or red eyes, with or without a rash, should contact a doctor, according to the Sacramento County Department of Public Health. Anyone diagnosed with measles should stay home until a doctor clears them.
Public health officials are encouraging anyone 12 months or older to get immunized against measles with two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine.
“One dose of the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine provides up to 95 percent protection,” Sacramento County Public Health Officer Dr. Olivia Kasirye said in a news release. “The second dose can be given as soon as a month after the first dose, which boosts protection to nearly 100 percent.”
As of Tuesday, 680 cases of measles have been reported in the U.S. This is the highest level of measles infections in 25 years, and the resurgence is largely attributed to misinformation turning parents against vaccines, according to the Associated Press.
This story is still developing. We will be updating this page as more measles cases are reported throughout the state.
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