Health officials in San Bernardino County have confirmed the first case of measles in the county since 2023.
The county’s Department of Public Health said the case involves an unvaccinated child who was visiting from another state, and is unrelated to the recent case of an international traveler who visited a Disney park.
The agency said the infected child visited the Walmart Supercenter in Ontario on Jan. 29 between noon and 3 p.m., and that county health officials are investigating whether others may have been exposed to the virus there.
Measles cases have increased in the United States as vaccination rates have fallen in recent years, allowing the highly contagious virus to spread in communities with lower immunization coverage.
In recent days, Orange County has confirmed two cases and Los Angeles County has confirmed three.
Public health officials are recommending that those who feel ill or believe they may have been exposed stay home and seek medical care immediately. Aside from the telltale rash, measles symptoms can include high fever, cough and red, watery eyes.
Symptoms appear seven to 14 days after exposure to the virus. People can be contagious about four days before their rash begins through four days afterward.
“Vaccines are our best defense against infectious diseases, protecting both individuals and the wider community,” said San Bernardino County Health Officer Dr. Sharon Wang. “Staying up to date with vaccinations is a key step in safeguarding public health and saving lives.”
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were 2,276 confirmed measles cases in the U.S. last year, the highest yearly total since the early 1990s.
So far this year, there have been 733 confirmed cases nationwide — and 95% of those infected were either unvaccinated or their vaccination status was unknown, CDC data show.
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