Remember the fuckers want to to get sick and die..

Shasta County outbreak drives Calif.'s first measles surge since 2020

By Olivia Hebert

Seventeen cases of measles have been reported across California since the start of 2026, marking the state’s first outbreak of the highly contagious virus since 2020. 

The California Department of Public Health issued a health alert on Monday, warning residents of the ongoing transmission as cases emerge across multiple counties. 

Eight of those cases are part of a related outbreak in Shasta County, according to the department, making it the largest cluster identified so far. All individuals involved were either unvaccinated or had an unknown vaccination history. 

As of Feb. 9, confirmed cases have also been reported in Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino and  Riverside counties. Public health officials are also investigating additional suspected cases. 

Two people with measles visited Disneyland on Jan. 22 and Jan. 28 while infectious, prompting state and local health officials to work with the park to notify potentially exposed employees and visitors, the CDPH said, adding that anyone who visited the park on those dates and later developed symptoms should contact a health provider.

“This really speaks to the easy transmissibility of measles,” Dr. Yasuko Fukuda, a San Francisco pediatrician and the immediate past chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics’ California chapter, told SFGATE. “If it comes into a group of people who are not protected, then you’re at risk because it’s so easily transmitted.”

Measles spreads through the air and can remain infectious for hours after an infected person leaves a room. Roughly 90% of unvaccinated people exposed to the virus will become infected, according to the CDPH. Symptoms of measles include a high fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes and a spreading rash. Severe complications can include pneumonia and encephalitis, particularly in young children and unvaccinated individuals.

Fukuda added that recent cases appear to be linked through close contact among unvaccinated individuals, a pattern consistent with previous outbreaks. Because the incubation period typically ranges from one to two weeks, additional cases often emerge after an initial exposure. 

“We know that second waves happen,” Fukuda said. “People are exposed in a public setting, they go back to their communities and then you see more cases among those who are vulnerable.”

“California reported more than 95% measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) coverage among kindergarteners for the 2024-2025 school year — the level of immunity needed to reduce the risk of community spread,” the CDPH said. Health experts said that statewide averages can still conceal communities with significantly lower vaccination rates. 

“You can have communities where the vaccination rate is much lower,” Fukuda said. “Once measles gets into that group, it’s much more likely to spread.”

Dr. Monica Gandhi, an infectious disease expert at UC San Francisco, said the outbreak is concerning, even in a state with strong immunization policies. 

“It’s very concerning to me that in California we’re starting to see these measles outbreaks,” Gandhi said. “It absolutely could indicate that it’s an iceberg and there could be many more cases.” 

Fukuda urged families to discuss upcoming travel and large gatherings with their health care providers. “If you’re going somewhere with known measles activity, you want to make sure you’re protected,” she said. “It’s about looking out for yourself and the people around you.”

Two doses of the MMR vaccine provide strong protection against measles, according to the CDPH. Infants as young as 6 months may receive an early dose before travel to areas with active outbreaks, followed by the standard two-dose schedule.

Families can check their immunization status through California’s Digital Vaccine Record and schedule appointments through MyTurn.ca.gov or through local health care providers.