Measles Confirmed In Person Who Went To Bay Area Restaurant

SAN MATEO COUNTY, CA — Health officials are letting the public know about a confirmed case of measles after someone who was contagious visited a popular San Mateo County restaurant.

The patient, an adult from Santa Clara County, had recently traveled outside the country and was vaccinated, health officials said. They are now recovering at home in isolation, according to a joint alert from San Mateo County Health and the Santa Clara County Public Health Department.

The Panda Express located at 1453 Burlingame Ave. in Burlingame is where the exposure may have occurred, health officials said.

Officials said anyone who stopped by this location during the following hours might have been exposed:

• Monday, February 23, 2026: 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, February 24, 2026: 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

The health alert noted that those who are unvaccinated, pregnant, or have a compromised immune system face the highest risk.

San Mateo County Health officials said the incubation period for measles is 7 to 21 days.

"If you start to feel sick with symptoms like fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, and a body rash, please stay home and call your health care provider right away before you go to an office or clinic," the health alert advised.

This new confirmed case in a neighboring county comes after a few recent infections right here in San Mateo County. There were two confirmed cases in 2026, following one case in 2025. This is the first case reported in a Santa Clara County resident since May 2025.

“Fortunately, our region has strong community immunity, because of our very high rates of vaccination or from childhood exposure decades ago,” said Dr. Sarah Rudman, Health Officer and Public Health Director for the County of Santa Clara. “Two shots of MMR or MMRV vaccine are the best protection against measles and can stop a measles outbreak in its tracks.”

Measles is a highly contagious respiratory illness that spreads through the air, health officials said. Symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, and a rash that spreads across the body. The complications can be quite serious.

Officials recommend these simple steps:

1. Check Your Immunity: Make sure you and your children are up-to-date on vaccinations. You can check your immunization records online or contact your healthcare provider.
2. Get Protected: If you're not fully vaccinated or aren't sure about your status, talk to your healthcare provider about getting the vaccine or an immunity test.
3. Travel Smart: Because measles is common around the world and we've seen outbreaks in the U.S., the alert suggests all international travelers over 6 months old should be vaccinated. It's best to chat with a doctor about immunizations 4-6 weeks before any international trip.

Vaccines are available through doctor’s offices or at retail pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens.

Health officials are advising anyone who visited a certain restaurant at specific times to monitor themselves for symptoms.

Large swaths of the U.S. are at anincreased risk of contracting measles due to falling vaccination rates, according to a study published Thursday in the journal Nature Health.