The Plumas County Public Health Agency announces it has been notified by the California Department of Public Health that four cases of measles have been reported in the past five days in California. Three of the four people visited Disneyland around Jan. 28. One of the patients lives in Shasta County.
Local health departments are working to find people who may have been exposed and to help prevent further spread. Anyone who went to Disneyland around that time period or knows someone who did should watch for measles symptoms, said the agency, especially for those who are unvaccinated or have only had one dose of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine.
Measles symptoms usually appear 11 to 12 days after a person is exposed to the virus but symptoms can appear anywhere from seven to 21 days after exposure. Measles is a very contagious virus. It can make people very sick and may lead to hospitalization or worse, said the agency. People with measles can spread the virus from about four days before the rash appears to four days after the rash begins.
Symptoms may include
- A rash that usually starts on the face, near the hairline and behind the ears, then spreads to the rest of the body
- High fever that can be over 104 degrees Fahrenheit
- Cough
- Runny nose
- Red, watery eyes (conjunctivitis)
Those who have symptoms can help stop the spread of measles by taking the following actions:
- Do not go out in public.
- Do not go to a clinic, hospital or doctor’s office without calling first.
- Call a health care provider. Providers can give instructions on what to do next and how to help protect others from being exposed.
The measles vaccine is usually given as the MMR vaccine. The agency says the MMR vaccine is safe and effective. People need two doses for strong protection; two doses are about 97% effective at preventing measles. People born before 1957 are likely to already have immunity.
Children usually get a first dose at 12 months or older and a second dose before kindergarten, or at least one month after the first dose. Some adults vaccinated before the 1990s may have received only one dose. Plumas County Public Health Agency encourages these adults to talk with their health care provider about whether they need a second dose.
More information about measles is available on the CDPH measles homepage and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention measles information page. Those with questions or concerns about possible exposure to measles can call their primary doctor or contact the PCPHA clinic at 530-283-6330.
