Local health officials are vigilant about the spread of measles with the first announced case this week. Photo via Adobe Stock

The Fresno County Department of Public Health (FCDPH) and the Madera County Department of Public Health (MCDPH) hosted a joint virtual news conference Wednesday morning to discuss the recent confirmed measles case in Fresno County.

Dr. Rais Vohra, interim health officer, FCDPH and Dr. Simon Paul, health officer, MCDPH, confirmed that the individual developed symptoms last week and was diagnosed after seeking medical care on Friday. The person, who was unvaccinated, is currently in quarantine and recovering at home. 

Vohra and Paul confirmed that the individual was traveling overseas when they were infected with measles. However, Paul would not disclose where the individual was traveling, saying that the virus is so prevalent globally that the locale doesn’t matter.

Vohra said the individual had the “full syndrome of measles” and felt “really bad.”

Fresno County most recently had two measles cases in 2023. The individuals were also overseas travelers.

The individual attended a large, faith-based event in Madera County while contagious. Public health teams, with help from event organizers, have notified attendees. Fresno County is leading the contact tracing efforts, identifying individuals who may be at higher risk, including unvaccinated infants under 12 months and immunocompromised individuals.

Vaccination rates in Fresno and Madera County are both around 96%. Paul added that despite the high rates, there is a risk of measles transmission among unvaccinated individuals. 

“If you have an event with 200 people and 96% are vaccinated, that means eight people are not,” Paul said. “So when you have events with large numbers of people or somebody going to a large venue, even though most people are vaccinated, you can still have a fair number of people who could be at risk for contracting measles.”

Paul also noted that the MMR vaccine, which protects against measles, mumps and rubella, remains highly effective. Two doses offer 97% protection for life.

Vohra concluded by saying that the risk of contracting measles is very low. Still, this case should remind people to keep up to date with their vaccines and, if they are untrusting of vaccines, to talk to their primary care specialist or trusted community leaders for advice.  

Health officials across the U.S. are dealing with ongoing measles outbreaks that have been especially prevalent in Texas and New Mexico.

Texas state health officials said Tuesday there were 25 new cases of measles since the end of last week, bringing Texas’ total to 223. Twenty-nine people in Texas are hospitalized.

New Mexico health officials announced three new cases Tuesday, bringing the state’s total to 33. The outbreak has spread from Lea County, which neighbors the West Texas communities at the epicenter of the outbreak, to include one case in Eddy County.

Oklahoma’s state health department reported two probable cases of measles Tuesday, saying they are “associated” with the West Texas and New Mexico outbreaks.

A school-age child died of measles in Texas last month, and New Mexico reported its first measles-related death in an adult last week.

Measles cases have been reported in Alaska, California, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont.