Orange County health officials Friday reported another measles case, this time involving a toddler, just days after confirming an infection in a 19-year-old who had traveled internationally.
Health officials said the toddler does not appear to have been publicly exposed to the virus and had not traveled prior to becoming infected.
In an interview with City News Service, Orange County Health Officer Dr. Regina Chinsio-Kwong declined to provide specifics on the two people infected, but said they were recovering from their illnesses. The 19-year-old and the toddler are unrelated.
As cases rise across the nation, Chinsio-Kwong and Dr. Anissa Davis, the deputy county health officer, emphasized the importance of getting vaccinated. They expect cases to rise as it is the most contagious virus.
UC Irvine epidemiologist Andrew Noymer agreed that cases could rise in Orange County.
“We could see more cases for sure,” he said. “But whether or not will be like Texas or South Carolina measles outbreaks remains to be seen. I’m tempted to say it won’t be because we have good vaccination coverage, but there are pockets of vaccine hesitancy in south county, but I still don’t think it will be as bad as Texas or South Carolina.”
Anyone already vaccinated should not be alarmed, Noymer said.
“People who have been vaccinated don’t really need to change their behavior,” Noymer said. “Don’t cancel that trip to the mall if you’re vaccinated.”
Noymer and the doctors also agreed that the measles vaccine is the most effective.
“I’m not losing sleep over this the way I did about COVID-19 six years ago because we have something that we still don’t have for COVID, which is an effective vaccine,” Noymer said. “The measles vaccine is the best vaccine in the vaccine arsenal. So anyone who has been vaccinated has a really high chance of being immune and parents who want to catch up can do so and now would be a great time to have a change of heart, particularly about measles.”
Davis said local medical providers anecdotally have been warning about a rise in vaccine hesitancy.
“We’re hearing it from providers that clients are asking more questions” about vaccines, Chinsio-Kwong said.
Most of the cases in California are travel-related as the state is a tourist destination, particularly in Southern California, Chinsio-Kwong said.
Herd immunity is 95% and the state is at that level, but if the vaccinated levels dip even a couple of percentage points it can open the door to a significant measles outbreak, Davis and Chinsio-Kwong said.
In the earlier case, the 19-year-old had traveled internationally before contracting the virus.
Times and locations of possible exposure to the highly contagious virus occurred between 2 and 4 p.m. last Friday at the EoS Gym in Ladera Ranch and the AFC Urgent Care in Ladera Ranch between 3:30 and 6 p.m. Friday and again 5 to 7:30 p.m. Monday, officials said.
There have been 588 confirmed cases in the nation this year, and 2,267 last year, the highest annual case count in more than three decades, officials said.
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health announced Friday the confirmation of the first measles case in a Los Angeles County resident since August.
The patient, who was not identified, had recently traveled internationally, according to the department. There are no identified public exposure locations in Los Angeles County outside of a health care setting. Affected health care facilities are directly notifying patients and staff who may have been exposed.
“Anyone planning domestic or international travel — or hosting visitors — should be fully vaccinated at least two weeks beforehand,” Davis said. “Adults and others who are not immune remain at risk, especially as outbreaks continue across the country and worldwide. Vaccination is the best protection.”
Common symptoms of the virus are fever, cough, red-water eyes, and a rash that usually starts on the head and spread. The virus spreads through the air and by direct contact with someone who is infected. An infection can be spreading the virus four days before the rash is noticed.
It can take up to four days before a rash occurs. Before that the infection could be confused with the flu or any other type of illness, Davis said.
Chinsio-Kwong warned against trying other remedies.
“We don’t want measles parties,” Chinsio-Kwong said.
A purposeful infection may develop immunity but in some rare cases it can lead to longterm complications down the line that can be deadly.
Some older residents may have only gotten one shot when they were a child, which should be enough to help ward off infection, Davis said. But it’s still a good idea to get a booster if you go traveling, she added.
Chinsio-Kwong also implored medical providers to quickly alert county health officials when they suspect they have encountered a measles infection. That can help with the surveillance necessary to warn others and get them vaccinated before symptoms show up. A shot before symptoms can help mitigate the illness or prevent it.
Chinsio-Kwong warned against heavy doses of Vitamin A, which was a remedy some in Texas sought.
“It’s not a treatment for measles,” Chinsio-Kwong said. “It can be toxic at high levels.”
The best plan is to call a doctor when you’re ill and follow their guidance, Chinsio-Kwong said.