Berkeley, California – Test results Monday confirmed that a UC Berkeley student has been diagnosed with measles, a highly infectious disease that is highly preventable for those who get vaccinated.
The dates of exposure to the community were from August 24 through August 29, when the student was put in isolation. The student’s activities during the early days of the infectious period-before the tell-tale rash developed-included spending time on the UC campus and in the community. On Monday August 24, the student left the campus area on AC Transit bus 25-A at 3:30 p.m. and returned on the same bus line at 5:30 p.m.. The measles virus can linger in the air for up to two hours, so Berkeley community members may have been exposed in a wide variety of places.
City of Berkeley Public Health is working with UC Berkeley to notify and assess exposed individuals who shared living quarters or classes with the ill student, who is now in isolation. Berkeley Public Health is also working closely with the California Department of Public Health and other public health officials to get information out to those who may have been exposed, and to health care providers.
Measles is a highly infectious, airborne virus, which spreads rapidly. Symptoms can develop between 7 and 21 days after exposure to the virus. The risk is very slight for those who have received the recommended two doses of the MMR vaccine.
If those exposed develop fever and a facial rash, they should contact their health care provider for advice and assistance. Those at highest risk are those who are unvaccinated, infants, pregnant women, and those with impaired immunity.
“I encourage Berkeley community members to make sure they and their children have received the required two doses,” said Dr. Janet Berreman, Berkeley’s Health Officer. “Obtaining records of your vaccination could prove critical in the event of a local outbreak.”
Measles is highly preventable. The recommended two doses of MMR vaccine protects 99% of people even if they are exposed to the virus. Even a single dose protects 95% of those vaccinated.
From December 2014 to April 2015, California experienced a large measles outbreak, which spread to other states. Measles is also common in many parts of the world outside of the Americas, including Asia and Europe. Although the California outbreak has been declared over, sporadic new cases of measles continue to occur. Anyone traveling to or from an area of the world where there is an outbreak can bring measles into our community, where it can spread rapidly among susceptible individuals.
Measles can have significant health impacts, especially among infants and pregnant women. Patients develop high fevers, red and watery eyes, high fevers, and a rash that starts on the head and face and spreads to cover most of the body. In some cases, measles can lead to pneumonia, encephalitis, hospitalization or even death.
Two doses of MMR vaccine are recommended, starting at 12 months of age. The second dose can be given as soon as 28 days after the first dose. In high risk situations, infants as young as 6 months of age can receive the vaccine.
Adults born before 1957 are considered immune because of the prevalence of measles prior to the emergence of the vaccine. Other adults who were not vaccinated as children, or are not sure of their immune status, can also receive the MMR vaccine.
Members of the community who have further questions can contact Berkeley Public Health at 981-5300 or publichealth@cityofberkeley.
Other resources:
California Department of Public Health:
http://www.cdph.ca.gov/HealthInfo/discond/Pages/Measles.aspx
Alameda County Public Health:http://www.acphd.org/measles.aspx
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: http://www.cdc.gov/measles
