Amtrak passengers on trains through Oakland and Emeryville on three days in the last week may have been exposed to a passenger later hospitalized with measles, state health officials said.
The alert was sounded Friday by the California Department of Public Health as it worked to notify passengers and other people who may have been exposed.
The passenger traveled on Amtrak’s Gold Runner, Train 717, which terminates in Oakland, from Bakersfield to Stockton, on Sept. 12; Capitol Corridor, Train 749, from Sacramento to Emeryville, on Sunday; and California Zephyr to Denver that departed Emeryville on Monday.
The traveler passed through at least at least six California counties — Alameda, Butte, Kern, Los Angeles, Sacramento and San Joaquin — on Amtrak trains and buses, the Health Department said.
“Measles is one of the most contagious infections that can lead to severe life-long consequences including permanent brain damage and can also be fatal, especially for children,” said Dr. Rita Nguyen, assistant state public health officer.
CDPH urged Californians to ensure they are fully vaccinated against measles.
“The measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine is safe and provides long-lasting protection against measles,” Nguyen said. “Vaccination protects both our own families and those who are too young to be fully vaccinated.”
Two doses of MMR vaccine are needed for full immunization. People who are not fully immunized against measles or are unsure of their immunity status, should contact a health care provider about receiving the MMR vaccine.
Symptoms include a fever that lasts a couple of days followed by a cough, runny nose, conjunctivitis (pink eye) and rash.
As of Monday, 59 measles cases had been reported in 13 counties statewide. In 94 percent of cases, patients were unvaccinated or had unknown vaccination status, the Health Department said.