The potential publicity comes as 1000’s of soccer followers descend on the county for the World Cup event.
A vial of the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccination for kids is displayed. The potential potential publicity in Santa Clara comes as 1000’s of soccer followers descend on the county for the World Cup event. (Patrick T. Fallon/AFP through Getty Pictures)
“Due to our very excessive vaccination charges and folk who had measles a long time in the past earlier than there was a vaccine, we’re very nicely protected as a group right here within the Bay Space,” Dr. Sarah Rudman, the county’s public well being officer, mentioned.
The potential publicity comes because the county hosts 1000’s of soccer followers for the World Cup event, which kicked off regionally on Saturday.
As of Sunday afternoon, the state Division of Public Well being dashboard reported 49 confirmed measles instances, although that quantity doesn’t seem to incorporate Santa Clara’s newest case. The variety of state-confirmed instances has sat regular since not less than mid-Could.
If confirmed by CDPH, Santa Clara’s case could be the fiftieth this 12 months.
State well being officers reported half that — 25 confirmed instances — throughout the state final 12 months.
“That is changing into increasingly more frequent,” Rudman mentioned in a media availability on Saturday. “A 12 months in the past, I might have mentioned that is extremely uncommon. And now that is already our second case of the 12 months.”
In February, the county reported its first measles case of the 12 months when a vaccinated resident returned from worldwide journey. Earlier than 2025, the county hadn’t recorded a measles case since 2019.
The U.S. recorded its highest quantity of instances in 2025, 25 years after the illness was declared eradicated.
California’s numbers additionally rose final 12 months, state information reveals. Since 2023, measles instances have elevated yearly. The final time instances surpassed present 2026 numbers was in 2019, when 72 instances have been reported.
Rudman mentioned that the county is working with federal and state officers from the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention and the state Division of Public Well being to establish any individuals who could have been uncovered.
Measles signs embrace a runny nostril, fever, cough and rash, in accordance to the CDC. The primary signs can seem as much as two weeks after an infection.
Youngsters, pregnant ladies and other people with weakened immune programs usually tend to expertise problems due to the illness.
Santa Clara well being officers mentioned that individuals ought to monitor for signs for 21 days after the potential publicity and never attend giant gatherings.
“Given the variety of giant worldwide occasions at present taking place all through the Bay Space, it’s particularly essential that any unvaccinated, uncovered particular person quarantines to the most effective of their capability and avoids contact with others if feeling unwell,” the Division mentioned in a press release.
If signs do seem, well being officers advise contacting your physician instantly.
