Santa Cruz County Public Health was notified of an individual with confirmed measles who traveled to Santa Cruz County on July 1. The individual dined at Taqueria Los Pericos, located at 139 Water St. in Santa Cruz.
Unvaccinated persons or those with unknown vaccination status who were at Taqueria Los Pericos from 6 to 10 p.m. on July 1 are especially at risk of developing measles from 7 to 21 days after being exposed. The County suggests these individuals do the following:
• Review their immunization and medical records to determine if they are protected against measles. People who have not had measles infection previously or who have not received the measles immunization may not be protected from the measles virus. These individuals should talk with a healthcare provider about receiving measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) immunization.
• Contact their health care provider by phone or email as soon as possible about a potential exposure if they are pregnant, have an infant, or have a weakened immune system regardless of vaccination history. Do not go to your provider in-person or go to the emergency department for potential exposure.
• Monitor themselves for illness such as fever and/or an unexplained rash from 7 days to 21 days after their exposure (the time period when symptoms may develop); if symptoms develop, stay at home and call a healthcare provider immediately. If you become ill enough that you need to seek medical attention in person, please wear a mask and inform the registration staff that you have had a measles exposure so that appropriate isolation can occur in the healthcare setting.
Measles is a highly contagious viral illness. Measles typically begins with a mild to moderate fever accompanied by cough, runny nose, and red/watery eyes. Some cases also report diarrhea, nausea and vomiting.
Two to three days later there is generally a fever and a red, blotchy rash appears, usually first on the face. This rash rapidly spreads downward to the chest and back and finally to the thighs and feet. The rash fades after about a week.
“Measles is spread through the respiratory route and can live in the air for up to an hour in the airspace where an infectious person has coughed or sneezed,” stated the County in a news release. “Other people can become infected by breathing the contaminated air.”
The time from being infected with the virus to developing symptoms can be as long as 21 days but is typically 9-12 days. People with measles are infectious from four days before to four days after the onset of the rash.
“Anyone diagnosed with measles or suspected of having measles should stay home for four days after the onset of the rash,” the County stated. “However, infected people without symptoms of measles may still be able to transmit the virus. Vaccination against measles is the best protection against measles infection.”
