Thursday the Health and Human Services Agency of San Diego County announced ten confirmed cases of measles. Nine of the infected individuals had never received vaccinations.
Measles is a highly infectious disease predominantly affecting children. According to the Mayo Clinic, measles can now almost always be prevented with a vaccine. Symptoms include fever, rash, cough, runny nose and or red eyes.
The Sharp Rees-Stealy urgent care clinic in La Mesa took on six of the cases and to prevent further break-out was forced to shut down the facility for five hours.
HHS announced that all ten individuals had ties with Disneyland in Anaheim.
The Los Angeles Times reported that the places with the greatest vulnerability to exposure are: the city of San Diego operations building (Jan. 12, 13 and 14); the CVS pharmacy in El Cajon (Jan. 14); Vons in El Cajon (Jan. 14); the La Mesa clinic (Jan. 3 and Jan. 14); Rite Aid Pharmacy in Alpine (Jan. 13); Trader Joe’s in La Mesa (Jan. 12); Absolute Personal Fitness in Julian (Jan. 9); Julian Fitness Center in Julian (Jan. 9); and Parkway Plaza Mall in El Cajon, near the GameStop, Sunglasses Hut and carousel (Dec. 29).
County public health director Dr. Wilma Wooten advises that anyone who visited those locations during the morning and afternoon hours on those dates should watch for the measles related symptoms.