Measles cases confirmed in Yolo County, California after international travel

Measles virus particle, illustration. This virus, from the Morbillivirus group of viruses, consists of an RNA (ribonucleic acid) core surrounded by an envelope studded with surface proteins haemagglutinin-neuraminidase and fusion protein, which are used to attach to and penetrate a host cell. Measles is a highly infectious itchy rash with a fever. It mainly affects children, but one attack usually gives life-long immunity.

(FOX40.COM) — Health officials in a Northern California county recently confirmed that two residents who returned from international travel were infected with measles, becoming the 10th and 11th people diagnosed with the disease in California to date.

Yolo County Health and Human Services added that the children of the two individuals have mild illnesses and are recovering at home.

The agency added that the infected people visited a couple of healthcare facilities in Sacramento County while they were infectious and may have exposed patients, visitors, and healthcare providers at the following venues:

• Kaiser Permanente South Sacramento Emergency Department, 6600 Bruceville Rd, Sacramento; June 12, 2024, between 3:30 a.m. to 5:00 a.m.
• Kaiser Permanente Downtown Commons Pediatric Clinic, 501 J St., Sacramento; June 12, 2024, between 10:23 a.m. and 11:45 a.m.
• Kaiser Permanente South Sacramento Emergency Department, 6600 Bruceville Rd, Sacramento; June 14-15, 2024, between 10:20 p.m. to 2:10 a.m.
• Kaiser Permanente Downtown Commons Pediatric Clinic, 501 J St., Sacramento; June 17, 2024, between 10:48 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.

“Individuals who were at the above locations during the dates and times listed may be at risk
of developing measles and are advised to contact Kaiser Permanente or Sacramento County Public Health’s Communicable Disease Program at (916) 875-5881, or Yolo County Public Health’s Communicable Disease Program at (530) 490-3953,” Yolo County Health and Human Services said.

What is measles?

According to the World Health Organization, measles is a highly contagious disease caused by a virus. The disease spreads easily through the breathing, coughing, or sneezing of an infected person.

The virus infects the respiratory tract and then spreads throughout the body, WHO said. Symptoms include a high fever, cough, runny nose, and a rash all over the body.

How to prevent getting measles

WHO says the best way to prevent getting measles, which is most common in children, is by getting vaccinated.

“Before the introduction of measles vaccine in 1963 and widespread vaccination, major epidemics occurred approximately every two to three years and caused an estimated 2.6 million deaths each year,” the organization added.

WHO also said that in 2022, nearly 140,000 people died from measles with the majority of them being children under the age of 5.