Infectious Measles Patient Visited SFO, Bay Area Stores: Officials

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — Health officials are warning the public of a measles patient who traveled in public, including at San Francisco Airport, while infectious last week.

The infectious person is a Santa Clara County resident, health officials said. That person traveled through San Francisco International Airport on June 8, and then visited a Trader Joe's and a market in San Jose, authorities said.

The infectious person traveled through the international terminal, including passport control, customs and the international baggage claim area from 8:30 to 11 a.m.

They then visited the Trader Joe's at 635 Coleman Ave. and the International Halal Market at 960 E. Santa Clara St. sometime between 8 and 10 p.m.

"The person with measles is an adult believed to be exposed to measles during international travel," the Santa Clara County Public Health Department said. "Further information about the individual will not be released for reasons of medical privacy."

Health officials say that anyone who was in the same areas at the time of possible exposure may be at risk of developing measles in seven to 21 days.

Those who believe they were exposed to the highly infectious disease are asked to call their healthcare provider immediately if pregnant or have a weakened immune system.

"If you develop symptoms of measles, it is very important to call ahead to any medical facility before going there and to tell them that you may have been exposed to measles," health officials said. "This allows the facility to take measures to protect other patients and visitors."

Measles is a highly contagious virus that can easily infect an unvaccinated person.

Most people who contract measles usually recover in about 10 days. Though the disease is preventable, measles can be serious and is potentially deadly, especially for children under the age of 5 and those living with a weakened immune system.

Measles causes a blotchy rash that can be shades of red, purple or brown depending on a person's skin color. The rash usually appears on the face and behind the ears, and spreads to the rest of the body, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Vaccinations have made measles uncommon in the United States for more than two decades, according to the Mayo Clinic, but the U.S. has seen a rise in measles cases health officials have attributed to vaccine hesitancy.

Earlier this month, health officials raised alarms after wastewater samples again showed measles spreading in California as the state continues to see the highest number of measles cases in seven years. In April, an unvaccinated infant was diagnosed with measles in the Bay Area.

"Exposures like this one remind us of the importance of vaccination," said Dr. Sarah Rudman, Health Officer and Public Health Director for the County of Santa Clara. "Fortunately, the Bay Area region has strong community immunity, because of our very high rates of vaccination or from childhood exposure decades ago."