Bay Area County reports first measles case since 2012

For the first time since 2012, a case of measles has been confirmed in Napa County.

An unvaccinated child fell ill after visiting South Carolina, where a large measles outbreak is currently reported, the county’s health and human services agency confirmed Wednesday.

REALTED: Measles case confirmed in Contra Costa County

At this time, there is no public health threat to the general population, the county said in a statement. Health officials are working with the California Department of Public Health to ensure all individuals with potential exposure are notified and up to date on their measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccines.

They are recommending all unvaccinated individuals ages one year and older receive measles vaccination to protect themselves and those around them. The MMR vaccine is safe and effective, providing lifelong immunity after two doses, the county statement noted.

“MMR vaccines are our best defense against the measles virus and its complications,” Christine Wu, Napa County’s public health officer, said. “Simply being in the same room with someone who has measles can result in infection for people who are not immune.”

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 include fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes and a rash that usually begins on the face and spreads across the body.

In 2025, there were more than 2,000 measles cases and three associated deaths in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More than 90% of the cases occurred in unvaccinated individuals.