SLO County confirms first case of measles since 2018 — in a local child
San Luis Obispo County has confirmed its first case of measles in seven years.
According to a news release from the San Luis Obispo County Public Health Department, a case of measles was confirmed in a local child on Wednesday, the first since 2018.
The individual in question traveled internationally recently, which often carries a higher risk of exposure, according to the release.
The risk of local transmission is considered low, and no additional cases have been identified at this time, according to the release.
“This case is a stark reminder that measles, though declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000, can still reappear when vaccination rates decline,” said Dr. Penny Borenstein, county health officer. “Measles is one of the most contagious viruses known, and the best protection is to be vaccinated against the disease.”
Federal government changing vaccine recommendations
In October, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its adult and child immunization schedules to leave the decision of whether to vaccinate for measles, mumps, rubella and varicella — more commonly known as chickenpox — up to parents, breaking from a standard that has been in place since the late 1980s.
That change, along with a similar decision related to the COVID-19 vaccination, have fundamentally altered the federal government’s approach to vaccination, leaving behind its previous recommendations that as many people get vaccinated against common but sometimes life-threatening diseases as possible in favor of personal choice.
Measles spreads through the air via the coughs or sneezes of an infected individual, lingering for up to an hour, according to the release.
Symptoms such as high fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes usually appear seven to 21 days after exposure, followed by the appearance of tiny white spots inside the mouth two to three days after initial symptoms.
A rash of tiny red spots then appears on the skin, starting on the face before spreading to the rest of the body, according to the release.
Infected individuals are usually contagious for around nine days, including the four days before their rash starts, the day of rash onset, and four days after, according to the release.
Anyone experiencing measles symptoms should stay home and get in touch with their healthcare provider before making a visit to a health facility to avoid exposing others, according to the release.
Complications can be serious, especially for infants, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems, including pneumonia, brain inflammation or, in rare cases, death, according to the release.
Vaccinations — which are 97% effective after two doses — are recommended for children at the age of 12 to 15 months, with a second dose at between 4 and 6 years old, while adults born after 1957 should ensure they have received two MMR doses, according to the release.
They can usually be found through your regular health provider, a local pharmacy or through the Public Health Department, according to the release.
“Even one measles case demands a strong response,” Borenstein said in the release. “Our public health team is working to notify anyone who may have been exposed and to reinforce vaccination awareness.”
This story was originally published December 17, 2025 at 11:48 AM.
