Another Measles Case Confirmed in San Mateo County, With Possible BART Exposure

San Mateo public health officials announced Thursday the fourth confirmed case of measles in the county since the current outbreak began in December.

What’s more, officials say BART riders may again have been exposed to the disease when an infected San Mateo County resident rode BART from Millbrae to San Francisco’s Civic Center station last week.

The patient boarded a Richmond-bound train at Millbrae at about 4:30 p.m. last Friday and exited at the Civic Center station at about 5 p.m., according to county health officials.

“While the risk of contracting measles by being exposed on BART is low, Bay Area residents should be aware and watch for symptoms if they are not vaccinated,” county health officials said in a statement issued Thursday.

This is the fourth measles case reported in San Mateo County.

As of the most recent statewide tally, released on Feb. 25, there were 126 confirmed cases of measles in California since this outbreak began in 2014. All but two of those cases is somehow linked to Disneyland, according to the state.

County health officials said they are compiling a list of people the patient had contact with and places visited while contagious. The person’s employer has been cooperative in discovering which other employees may have been exposed, county officials said.

Anyone determined to have been exposed to the disease is being contacted and informed of the risks and having their immunization status determined. BART riders were previously exposed to measles when a Contra Costa County resident commuted to San Francisco’s LinkedIn office between Feb. 4 and 6.

“Measles is a highly contagious disease, a dangerous disease for many people, such as infants, and most important, it’s a preventable disease,” San Mateo County health officer Dr. Scott Morrow said in a statement. “The measles vaccine is safe and being vaccinated not only protects you and your family, but every child and person in your community. I strongly urge everyone to get vaccinated and help stop the spread of measles.”

— Patch Editor Renee Schiavone and Bay City News Service contributed to this report.
(Image via Shutterstock)

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