Napa County Confirms First Measles Case Since 2012

NAPA VALLEY, CA — Napa County confirmed its first measles case in over a decade in an unvaccinated child.

The child became ill after traveling to South Carolina, where a widespread outbreak of the highly contagious virus was reported, according to health officials.

The case marks Napa County’s first measles infection since the last reported case in 2012.

Napa County health officials said there is no current threat to the general public, noting that they are working closely with the California Department of Public Health to identify and notify anyone who may have been exposed.

Public Health Services urged residents to ensure they are up to date on their measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccinations and recommends that all unvaccinated individuals 1 year and older receive the vaccine to protect themselves and their communities.

Large swaths of the country face an increased risk of contracting measles due to falling vaccination rates, according to a study published Thursday in the journal Nature Health. An interactive map developed at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and Boston Children’s Hospital allows users to explore county-level estimates of MMR vaccination rates.

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