Seven Confirmed Measles Cases in Orange County
(Santa Ana) – The Orange County Health Care Agency has confirmed seven cases of measles in Orange County in 2014, which is consistent with an increase seen throughout California. The most recent cases spent time in public locations in Orange County while contagious.
“We expect to see additional measles cases in Orange County, increasing the likelihood that you and your family may be exposed to the disease,” said Dr. Eric Handler, Public Health Officer for the County of Orange. “These new measles cases underscore the importance of making sure that you and your families are up to date with the MMR vaccination.”
Potential exposure locations and times include:
St. Joseph Heritage Healthcare Medical Office, 4300 Rose Drive, Suite D, Yorba Linda, CA
Monday, March 3 from 9:30 – 11:00 am
Friday, March 7 from 1:30 – 3:00 pm
Panda Express 27602 Antonio Pkwy Ste G3, Ladera Ranch · (949) 365-0291
Tuesday, March 4 from 1:00 – 3:00 pm
Friends Christian Elementary School, 5151 Lakeview Avenue, Yorba Linda, CA
Wednesday, March 5 from 9:30 – 11:30 am
Robinson Ranch School, 21400 Lindsay Drive, Trabuco Canyon, CA
Thursday, March 6, 6:30 – 9:00 p.m.
Placentia Linda Hospital Emergency Department, 1301 North Rose, Yorba Linda, CA
Saturday, March 8 from 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Kids Doc, 27800 Medical Center Road, Mission Viejo, CA
Sunday, March 9 from 1:00 – 2:30 pm
Mission Hospital, Mission Viejo, Emergency Department, 27700 Medical Center Rd, Mission Viejo, CA 92691
Sunday, March 9 from 9:50 am to 3:45 pm
Monday, March 10 from 11:25 am to 12:30 pm
Mission Hospital, Mission Viejo, CHOC Pediatric Medical Surgical Department, 27700 Medical Center Rd, Mission Viejo, CA 92691
Monday, March 10 from 11:25 am to Tuesday, March 11 at 4:30 pm
Staff at the Health Care Agency has been working with these locations to contact people who may have had a prolonged exposure to a person infected with measles. The risk of developing infection after brief encounters with persons with measles is low, but as a precaution, people who were in these locations around the same time as the individual with measles should:
Review their vaccination history if they have not previously had the measles; people who have not had measles or the measles vaccine are at higher risk after an exposure, so they should talk with a health care provider about receiving MMR vaccination.
Monitor themselves for illness with 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, contact a health care provider immediately
Measles is a highly contagious and potentially severe disease that causes fever, rash, cough, and red, watery eyes. Measles spreads very easily by air and by direct contact with an infected person. Measles is contagious from approximately four days before the rash appears through four days after the rash appears.
Measles is a rare disease in the United States and in regions of the world where vaccination coverage is high. Maintaining high vaccination rates is vital to preventing outbreaks of disease in our community.
To learn more about measles, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the Orange County Health Care Agency.
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