There are three new possible cases of measles in San Diego County, and health officials have released locations in the North County where residents may have been exposed to the virus.
The County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) announced they are awaiting test results to confirm the cases. If they are confirmed, the total number of cases in the county will rise to 13.
Sharp Rees-Steely announced Monday it was closing an urgent care in Rancho Bernardo due to a potential measles case. It's not known if this closure was linked to the county's announcement.
In the meantime, health officials were releasing the locations frequented by the patients since Dec. 30. They include an Oceanside supermarket, a Carlsbad movie theater and a popular restaurant in San Marcos.
These three people were not vaccinated when they traveled to Disneyland on Dec. 18, county officials said.
More than two dozen people in four states were sickened after visits to the Disneyland theme parks in Anaheim, California between Dec. 17 and Dec. 20.
Local
Two have recovered while one was still recuperating at home, according to the county.
Here are the locations and days of potential exposure:
- Vista Community Clinic, 1000 Vale Terrace Drive, Vista, on Jan. 16 from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
- Sprouts Farmers Market, 471 College Blvd, Oceanside, on Jan. 14 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
- Albertsons, 7660 El Camino Real, Carlsbad, on Jan. 13 from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Phil’s BBQ, 579 Grand Ave, San Marcos, on Jan. 11 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
- Regal Carlsbad 12, 2501 El Camino Real, Carlsbad, on Jan. 6 from 9:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.
- Ice-Plex Escondido, 555 N Tulip Street, Escondido, on Dec. 30 from 8 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
East County residents were alerted after two siblings were reported to have symptoms on January 7.
A week later, on Jan. 14, six siblings ranging in age from 22 months to 18 years old, arrived at the urgent care at 5525 Grossmont Center Drive in La Mesa.
County officials previously released the following locations as a warning of potential exposure in previous cases:
- City of San Diego Operations Building, 1222 First Ave., San Diego, Jan. 12 from 6:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Jan. 13 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; and Jan. 14 from 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
- CVS Pharmacy, 2760 Fletcher Parkway, El Cajon, Jan. 14 from 4 to 7 p.m.
- Vons, 2800 Fletcher Parkway, El Cajon, Jan. 14 from 4 to 7 p.m.
- Sharp-Rees-Steely Urgent Care Clinic, 5525 Grossmont Center Drive, La Mesa, on Jan. 3 between 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. and Jan. 14 from noon until the clinic was closed at 1 p.m.
- Rite Aid Pharmacy, 1665 Alpine Blvd., Alpine, Jan. 13 from 4 to 7 p.m.
- Trader Joes, 5495 Grossmont Center Drive, La Mesa, Jan. 12 from 4 to 7 p.m.
- Absolute Personal Fitness, 2000 Main Street, Julian, Jan 9 from 5 to 7 p.m.
- Julian Fitness Center, 2216 Main Street, Julian, Jan. 9 from 5 to 7 p.m.
- Parkway Plaza Mall in El Cajon, Dec. 29 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. only, especially in or around GameStop, Sunglasses Hut and the carousel in the mall.
Measles is a highly contagious disease that spreads through the air by coughing and sneezing. Symptoms can develop between seven and 21 days from exposure.
Early symptoms include a high fever, cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Two to three days in, tiny white spots may develop inside the mouth. After three to five days, the distinctive rash begins to form.
Anyone who develops symptoms after being at one of the locations listed above should contact their health provider by telephone, county officials said.
Many doctors are now calling for everyone who has not been vaccinated for measles to do so immediately.
"For parents who elect not to immunize their children, they're placing themselves at risk certainly, and I think other people in the county," said Daniel Smith, M.D. with Sharp Rees-Steely.
On Monday, Sharp Health Care reported it was closing its urgent care center on Via Tazon west of Interstate 15 and south of Rancho Bernardo Road. The center serves the communities of Poway, Rancho Peñasquitos, Carmel Mountain Ranch, 4S Ranch and Sabre Springs.
More details are available from the San Diego County News Center.
