Health officials confirm first case of measles in Orange County for 2019

SANTA ANA, Calif. (FOX 11) - The Orange County Health Agency has confirmed the first case of measles in Orange County for 2019.

The HCA says a Placentia woman in her 20s recently traveled to one of the many countries experiencing widespread measles activity. The patient is considered infectious between April 23 and May 1, 2019, and is currently under voluntary isolation at home, the Health Care Agency said.

Health officials say other Orange County residents may have been exposed to the measles since the ill woman visited public locations while infected with measles.

Those that think they may have been exposed to measles may call the HCA Health Referral line at 1-800-564-8448.

Potential exposure locations and times according to the OC Health Care Agency:

Health officials say that those that were in the locations above around the same time as the woman with measles should:

An increase in measles cases has been reported throughout the United States. People are encouraged to be up-to-date with their vaccinations.

Measles is highly contagious and could become very severe causing fever, rash, cough, and red, watery eyes. The disease spreads very easily by air and by direct contact with an infected person, and is contagious from about four days before the rash appears and four days after the rash appears, according to Interim County Health Officer Dr. Nichole Quick.

For more information on measles, visit the Orange County Health Care Agency website.