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Recent measles cases locally caused San Mateo County Health joined Bay Area health officials in urging everyone to be up to date on virus vaccines and watch for symptoms after travel or exposure.
Measles is a very contagious viral disease. It spreads easily when an infected person breathes, coughs or sneezes, and can cause serious illness, complications or death. While it can affect anyone, it is most common among children, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
The best protection against measles is two doses of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, which protects you for life. This is particularly important for anyone traveling internationally in the coming months, health authorities detailed in a statement.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that in 2024 there have been 64 confirmed cases of measles in 17 jurisdictions, and more than 90 percent of those cases are related to international travel, as Measles circulates in many regions of the world, including popular tourist and business destinations. Most cases in the US have occurred among children 12 months or older who had not received the MMR vaccine.
With three major airports, the Bay Area is a hub for international travel, increasing the potential for exposure to this highly contagious virus.
For individuals or families planning to travel abroad, anyone who is not vaccinated against measles is at increased risk of becoming infected, so health authorities called to plan an international trip in advance and consult the destination and the Health Notice. CDC's Measles Travel Guide for more travel health tips, including where measles outbreaks have been reported.
In turn, they called for, after returning to the United States, to be attentive to the signs and symptoms of measles for 3 weeks.
While MMR vaccination rates have been high in the Bay Area, it is important to confirm vaccination history.
Symptoms of measles include fever, cough, runny nose, and conjunctivitis, followed 2 to 4 days later by a rash. The virus is transmitted through direct contact with infectious droplets or through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs or sneezes. Infectious droplets can remain in the indoor air for several hours.
About one in five people infected with measles requires hospitalization, and between 1 and 3 in every thousand children who become infected with measles will die from respiratory and neurological complications, according to the CDC.
Measles poses the greatest risk to children under 5 years of age, adults over 20 years of age, pregnant women, and people with compromised immune systems.
Vaccination is very effective in preventing measles. The MMR vaccine is recommended for children 12 to 15 months, with a second dose administered between 4 and 6 years. Babies aged 6 to 12 months can start vaccinations early before traveling abroad. Adolescents and adults without evidence of immunity should be vaccinated immediately.
“While the risk of exposure to measles in the Bay Area is still low, it is important to ensure that everyone has the strongest protections against this dangerous disease,” said Dr. Kismet Baldwin-Santana, County Health Officer. Saint Matthew.
Among the health officials who joined the call are those from the counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Monterey, Napa, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, San Benito, San Francisco, San Mateo, Solano, Sonoma and the city of Berkeley.
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