HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE WARNING that a Bay Area resident tested positive for measles after returning home from abroad and may have exposed others to the virus.
The traveler, who wasn’t hospitalized and is currently isolating at home, is the first measles case reported in Santa Clara County this year.
“The person tested positive after returning from international travel, including passing through a U.S. airport where the person might have been exposed to measles,” according to a joint news release on Thursday from the Alameda County and Santa Clara public health departments. The airport wasn’t named.
Health officials from the two agencies want to get the word out about three sites the person visited in over the past few weeks:
- 7:15 to 9 p.m. on May 21 at H Mart, 1710 Oakland Road in San Jose
- 11:45 a.m. to 2 p.m. on May 23 at Starbucks, 35040 Newark Blvd. in Newark
- 4:45 to 8 p.m. on May 25 at Trader Joe’s, 1306 Great Mall Parkway in Milpitas
Anyone who visited those sites at the specified times may be at risk if they aren’t immune to measles, or unsure if they have been vaccinated, health officials said. Those at risk should review their immunization records with their health care provider or visit myvaccinerecord.cdph.ca.gov.
In addition, anyone who is pregnant, the parent of an infant, has a weakened immune system, or is unimmunized who visited the sites during those times should call their health care provider immediately, the public health officials said.
Those who may have been exposed should monitor for symptoms for seven to 21 days after the day of potential exposure.
Symptoms of measles include fever, cough, runny nose, conjunctivitis (red eyes), and a rash that usually appears 10 to 21 days after exposure. Anyone who has the symptoms should call ahead to any medical facility before going in and tell them that you may have been exposed to measles, so that the facility can take measures to protect other patients and visitors.
On Friday, the two health agencies will hold a joint press conference to talk about prevention measures, vaccination and steps that people should take if they were at any of three locations during those times.
The press conference will be held at 9:30 a.m. Friday, at 150 W. Tasman Drive in San Jose. It will be livestreamed and available online at youtube.com/SCCPublicHealth and facebook.com/sccpublichealth.
More information about measles can be found at sccphd.org/measles and acphd.org/measles.
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