A Ventura County resident has tested positive for measles in the county’s first such case in nine years, public health officials said.
Dr. Uldine Castel, county health officer, said the case is linked to international travel. She said it's possible other people could have been exposed to the highly contagious illness at several sites ranging from an Oxnard movie theater to a Ventura medical office.
Los Angeles County officials said an infected person also visited Universal Studios Hollywood on July 26. Castel confirmed it was the same case.
The disease was confirmed late in the afternoon on Aug. 4. Castel offered little information about the infected person but said the individual is an adult who had returned home from a trip to another country
and was isolating at home.
Health officials were working at identifying people who were in physical contact with the infected person and may have been exposed, Castel said.
“We have found a few contacts, and they’ve all been actively engaged with our communicable disease staff,” she said, noting that in some cases blood has been drawn to confirm a person has been infected and is immune.
She also expressed confidence in efforts to control further transmission.
"Our team has mobilized quickly to help alert the community and try to contain the spread," she said in a news release. "Ventura County is well positioned to respond effectively with our experienced staff and strong vaccination rates among our residents."
Health officials said people could possibly have been exposed at the following times and locations:
- July 26, about 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.: Subway restaurant, 1941 N. Rose Ave., Suite 600, Oxnard
- July 26, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.: Universal Studios Hollywood, Universal City
- July 27 to Aug. 1: Hacienda Furniture and Mattress, 3200 S. Saviers Road, Oxnard
- July 31, about 7:30 p.m. to midnight.: Cinemark Century Riverpark theater, 2766 Seaglass Way, Oxnard
- Aug. 1, about 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.: Walgreens, 1801 N. Rose Ave., Oxnard
- Aug. 2, about 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.: Kaiser Permanente medical office, 4949 Market St., Ventura
Officials said other locations of possible exposures were being investigated. They said people who may have been exposed should contact their doctors and check their vaccination status.
Children should receive their first vaccine dose between 12 months and 15 months of age. The second dose should come when they are 4 years to 6 years old. Adults who may have been exposed and don't know if they've been vaccinated should reach out to their physicians.
People who may have been exposed are at higher risk if they are: pregnant, an infant younger than 12 months old, a person with weakened immunities or someone who is unvaccinated.
Symptoms of measles usually appear one or two weeks after exposure and can last up to 10 days. They include a high fever, cough, runny nose and red watery eyes.
A rash typically appears three to five days after the first symptoms, starting at the hairline and spreading downward across the body.
Public health officials said people who develop symptoms should call a health care provider immediately but should not visit a medical facility without notification. People with symptoms should isolate and stay away from work, school or other public places.
Ventura County’s last reported measles cases came in 2017 when three county residents and two other non-residents staying in the county tested positive for the illness. Two years earlier, when an outbreak linked to Disneyland spread across California and other states, 14 measles cases were reported in the county.
This year has brought a surge of measles cases in the United States. Castel said the local case is not linked to other domestic outbreaks because it was triggered by international travel.
Castel said the county’s high measles vaccination rate and the quick response of health workers are good signs.
“I feel really confident,” she said. "We have an incredible staff that knows how to do this."
People with questions can call the county’s measles information line at 805-652-7599. Doctors can report suspected cases by calling 805-981-5201.
Tom Kisken covers health care and other news for the Ventura County Star. Reach him at tom.kisken@vcstar.com.
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This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Ventura County reports first measles case in nine years
