Orange County Confirms Measles Case, First Of 2019

PLACENTIA, CA—A Placentia woman who traveled internationally has contracted the measles, the Orange County Health Care Agency announced on Tuesday in what is the first confirmed case of measles in Orange County for 2019.

The woman, in her 20s, told officials she visited one of many countries struggling with widespread measles outbreaks. She also visited many places across Orange County over the past week including:

• 5 Hutton Centre Drive, Santa Ana, April 23-25 from 7:45 a.m. to 7:15 p.m. daily
• AMC movie theater, 1001 S. Lemon St., Fullerton, April 25 from 11 p.m. through April 26 at 4 a.m.
• St. Jude Emergency Department, 101 E. Valencia Mesa Drive, Fullerton, April 27, from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m.

"She is considered infectious between April 23 and through Wednesday, " OC Healthcare said.

She has voluntarily quarantined herself at home, according to an OC Health Care spokesperson, and the woman's name was not released.

The woman visited multiple places locally, so officials are concerned others may have contracted the highly infectious illness.

Residents with questions about the measles are encouraged to call the HCA's health referral line at 800-564-8448.

Anyone who visited any of those locations during those times should review their vaccination history.

Those who have not had measles or the preventive vaccine are at higher risk after being exposed and should talk with a health care provider about receiving a Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccination.

Health officials also say to self-monitor for illness with fever, either alone or with an unexplained rash from 7 days to 21 days after exposure.

If symptoms develop, stay at home and call a health care provider immediately.

Measles is on the uptick in the country and internationally.

"Measles is a highly contagious and potentially severe disease that causes fever, rash, cough, and red, watery eyes," said Dr. Nichole Quick, Orange County's interim health officer. "It spreads very easily by air and by direct contact with an infected person and is contagious from approximately four days before the rash appears through four days after the rash appears. The MMR vaccine is a simple, inexpensive, and very effective measure to prevent the spread of this serious virus."

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