Public health authorities in Napa County on Wednesday confirmed a case of measles in an unvaccinated child who had traveled out of state, the Napa County Health and Human Services Agency said.  

This is the first measles case in the county since 2012, according to health officials. 

The child became ill after visiting South Carolina, where health officials said there is currently a large measles outbreak.  

“At this time, there is no public health threat to the general population,” the county health agency said.  

Napa County health officials are working with the California Department of Public Health to ensure all individuals with potential exposures are notified and are up to date on their measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccines, they said. Napa County Public Health is recommending all unvaccinated individuals ages one year and older receive measles vaccination to protect themselves and those around them. 

Measles is a highly contagious respiratory virus that spreads through the air and can remain airborne or on surfaces for up to two hours after an infected person leaves the area. Symptoms of measles include fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, and a rash that typically begins on the face and spreads downward across the body.  

According to county health officials, the MMR vaccine is safe and highly effective, providing lifelong immunity after two doses.   

Katy St. Clair got her start in journalism by working in the classifieds department at the East Bay Express during the height of alt weeklies, then sweet talked her way into becoming staff writer, submissions editor, and music editor. She has been a columnist in the East Bay Express, SF Weekly, and the San Francisco Examiner. Starting in 2015, she begrudgingly scaled the inverted pyramid at dailies such as the Vallejo Times-Herald, The Vacaville Reporter, and the Daily Republic. She has her own independent news site and blog that covers the delightfully dysfunctional town of Vallejo, California, where she also collaborates with the investigative team at Open Vallejo. A passionate advocate for people with developmental disabilities, she serves on both the Board of the Arc of Solano and the Arc of California. She lives in Vallejo.