A measles warning was released Thursday after health officials realized people at four public locations may have been exposed to the disease in the last week.
Two new measles cases have been linked to a person who contracted the infection while in the Philippines, according to the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA).
Those two sick people may have exposed others at these locations and times:
- Pettit Kohn law offices at 11622 El Camino Real, Suite 300 on Feb. 28 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and again on March 3 from 8 to 10 a.m.
- The Naval Base San Diego Commissary, 2525 Callagan Highway, Bldg. 3629 on March 1 between 1 and 4 p.m.
- Sharp Rees-Stealy Sorrento Mesa Urgent Care Center, 10243 Genetic Center Dr. on March 3 from 4 to 8 p.m.
- Sharp Rees-Stealy Sorrento Mesa Primary Care, 10243 Genetic Care Center Dr. on March 4 between 12:30 and 6 p.m.
Navy and HHSA officials have been contacting people who they know were in those locations to make sure they have been vaccinated.
If you have not had measles or been vaccinated for it – and you were in those locations at the estimated exposure time – call your doctor within one week to get evaluation and possible treatment.
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The HHSA said if you don’t have a doctor, call its Epidemiology Branch at 619-692-8499.
“The best way to prevent measles is by getting the measles vaccine,” said County Public Health Officer Eric McDonald. “Infants under 12 months of age are at high risk of infection with measles because they would not have received the protective vaccine.”
HHSA officials said measles can develop 7 to 21 days after exposure, and symptoms include cough, runny nose and red eyes at the onset.
In one to four days, a distinctive red rash usually appears on the face and head, moving downward to hands and feet.
The very contagious disease can spread by coughing, sneezing or just being in the same room with an infected person, said McDonald.
The only treatment for measles is bed rest, fluids and fever control. However, those born after 1956 should have received at least one dose of MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine or documents that show they’re immune.
