Public health officials in Alameda and Santa Clara counties have issued a warning about potential measles exposure linked to a traveler who tested positive for the virus. The individual, who returned to the U.S. and shopped at local retail stores, is recovering at home. The risk of exposure is highest for those unvaccinated or unsure of their vaccination status. The alert includes specific shopping locations and times where exposure may have occurred, highlighting the highly contagious nature of measles, which can remain airborne for hours.
"At this point we don't know the number of people who may have been exposed to this very contagious disease," says acting Santa Clara County health officer Dr. Sarah Rudman.
Measles is an airborne pathogen that can remain airborne for up to two hours after an infected person leaves an area which is why the time windows above are so extended.
This is the first recorded case of measles in Santa Clara County since 2019, but Alameda County had a recorded case, in someone who had traveled internationally, in 2024.
The warning is most acute for those who are not immune or are not sure whether they are vaccinated against measles.
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