Health officials have confirmed a measles case in Contra Costa County, identified on Dec. 24, and are warning the public about possible exposure. The infected person was contagious in public from Dec. 17 to 24 and visited several locations where others may have been exposed.
Possible exposure spots:
- Dec. 17 or 19: Anthropologie, 1149 South Main St., Walnut Creek
- Dec. 18: Macy’s, ALO Yoga, and the Apple Store in Walnut Creek
- Dec. 21: STAT Med in Lafayette
- Dec. 23–24: Kaiser Permanente Walnut Creek Emergency Department
People who were at these places on the listed dates may be at risk, especially those who are not vaccinated, pregnant, or have weak immune systems. Measles symptoms, like fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, and a rash, usually show up 7 to 21 days after exposure.
Health officials recommend that anyone who might have been exposed check with their doctor to make sure they are fully vaccinated or have immunity. If symptoms appear, stay home and call your healthcare provider before visiting in person.
Most people in the county are already protected through vaccination, but Contra Costa Health is urging anyone who hasn’t had two doses of the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine to get immunized. The vaccine is the best way to prevent illness, officials said.
Measles is highly contagious and can spread through the air or on surfaces for more than an hour after an infected person leaves an area. Even before symptoms appear, a person can spread the virus.
Contra Costa Health is doing contact tracing and has alerted local healthcare providers to be on the lookout for additional cases. Updates will be shared if more information becomes available, the department said.
More information is available at cchealth.org.
