NEWS: Bay Area Health Officials Urge Vigilance as Measles Cases Rise in the US

San Mateo County, California sent this bulletin at 03/29/2024 12:05 PM PDT

March 29, 2024

For Immediate Release

Bay Area Health Officials Urge Vigilance as Measles Cases Rise in the US

While the risk of measles exposure remains low for most Bay Area residents, the increasing number of cases nationwide and in California underscores the importance of robust protection against this highly contagious and dangerous illness

Redwood City — With measles on the rise nationally, and recent cases locally, San Mateo County Health joins Bay Area health officials in urging everyone to be up to date on measles vaccinations and to watch for symptoms after travel or exposure. The best protection against measles is two doses of the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, which protects you for life. This is particularly important for anyone travelling internationally in the upcoming months.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that in 2024 there have been 64 confirmed cases of measles across 17 jurisdictions, with more than 90 percent of those cases linked to international travel, as measles is circulating in many regions in the world, including popular tourist and business destinations. Most cases in the US have been among children aged 12 months and older who had not received the MMR vaccine.

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