Riverside County reports first case of measles since 2018
For the first time in seven years Riverside County health officials have confirmed a case of measles in a resident.
The patient, who has not been identified outside of living somewhere in the eastern portion of the county, tested positive for the infection within the last few weeks and is recovering at home, according to a statement from the Riverside University Health System.
Officials did not provide an origin of infection, but they said that the person had recently traveled outside of the U.S. They did not name a country either.
This is the ninth case of measles reported in California since the beginning of the year. There have been confirmed reports in Los Angeles, Orange, San Mateo, Fresno, Pacer and Tuolumne counties thus far, according to the California Department of Public Health.
Last month Los Angeles Department of Public Health officials confirmed a resident with a case of measles, just weeks after they announced that an Orange County child who was also sick with the infection had traveled through LAX.
"Those who travel internationally to areas with ongoing measles transmission may be at risk for exposure," said Dr. Jennifer Chevinsky, the county Public Health Officer. "It's important to check and make sure you are up to date on your vaccines, at least two weeks prior to international travel."
The news comes as the U.S. deals with the most measles cases in a single year since 2019.
"As measles cases continue to occur nationwide, it's important to remain proactive to identify signs of illness ... in order to promptly diagnose measles and prevent additional exposures," Chevinsky said.
Typical measles symptoms begin with a fever that lasts for several days, which is then followed by a runny nose, cough conjunctivitis and a rash, according to RUHS.
"The earliest symptoms usually last four to seven days. The rash will usually appear first on the face, along the hairline and behind the ears. It then spreads to the rest of the body. Those infected can spread measles about four days before their rash starts to four days afterward."
Officials emphasize that anyone infected should isolate until their symptoms have disappeared to prevent community spread.
