Measles Exposure in California Again

It has been announced that Californians may have been exposed to measles, again, after health officials were able to confirm a patient under health provider care had contracted the disease.

This is the 16th confirmed case of measles in California this year, according to the California state Department of Public Health; that's eight times the number of confirmed cases reported in the state last year.

The patient, a resident of San Mateo County who had been recently abroad, returned home showing signs of having contracted the disease and was immediately placed under private provider care. State health officials say they are currently investigating who could have been exposed to the potentially deadly virus, but as of now, it appears the patient had not been given much of an opportunity to come in contact with much of the public before being placed into care.

That news is likely good to hear for Californians, who have been receiving all too many exposure warnings. Earlier this month, one measles case put countless commuters and University of California, Berkley students at risk when a commuter student with the disease made his way to class for three days before being discovered with the virus.

California is not the only state to be seeing cases of measles exposure. Earlier this week, Massachusetts reported two cases of the virus, potentially exposing employees and patrons of a Trader Joe's.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), India and the Philippines are in the midst of a measles outbreak and international travel is spreading the highly contagious disease to other countries. Officials say this is why it is absolutely paramount that U.S. citizens become immunized to the disease prior to going abroad.

Measles, spread through sneezing and coughing, is highly contagious. Symptoms include red and watery eyes, a body-covering rash, and severe fever. The disease is particularly dangerous to children and pregnant women. According to the CDC, during the last year alone, 159 unvaccinated people in the U.S. were reported to have contracted the Virus.

The best way to avoid getting measles, which is all but gone in the U.S., is to get a vaccination.