Thursday, 13 August 2026, 10:24
NBC Los Angeles reported that Ventura County health officials confirmed a measles case tied to international travel, marking the county's first case since 2017. The Ventura County Public Health Department said it is investigating and working with health care providers and exposed people to prevent further spread.
Health officials confirmed the case Wednesday, according to the Ventura County Public Health Department.
"Our team mobilized quickly to alert the community and try to contain the spread," Ventura County Public Health Officer Dr. Uldine Castel said in a statement.
Dr. Castel added: "Ventura County is well-positioned to respond effectively with our experienced staff and strong vaccination rates among our residents."
"Measles is the most contagious disease that we have," Dr. Castel said. "It's incredibly efficient at transmission. If one person has measles in a room with ten people who are non-immune, nine people will walk out of that room infected."
Health officials are working overtime to track down as many people as possible, but Dr. Castel noted that many individuals who visited the five locations cannot be identified.
Dr. Castel described the typical course of the illness: "For some people, it is an infection that has a high fever, a rash, runny nose, and watery eyes. After a week, those symptoms can often abate. But, for people who have more difficulty with it, it can turn into pneumonia, and make its way to the brain and the central nervous system, causing inflammation of the brain. People can die." She added that most severe outcomes occur in vulnerable populations.
Dr. Castel said the risk of severe disease is much higher in young children, pregnant women, and immunocompromised individuals. "For those people, it can be quite devastating and deadly." She also noted that measles has been on the rise nationwide as vaccination rates have dropped. In Ventura County, 96.4% of children received the required double vaccination in 2024-25, higher than the statewide average.
Dr. Castel called the situation a "wake-up call" for unvaccinated people and parents of unvaccinated children, and urged them to talk to their health care providers.
The health department listed these possible exposure locations in Oxnard and Ventura:
Anyone at these locations during those times may have been exposed. The virus can stay in the air and on surfaces for up to two hours after an infected person leaves an area.
Health officials noted that there may be other locations where an exposure may have occurred.
ABC7 reported that the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health confirmed a person infected with measles visited Universal Studios Hollywood on July 26. The department asked anyone at the park between 10 a.m. and 9 p.m. that day to confirm their measles protection.
FOX 11 Los Angeles reported that anyone who visited the park on Sunday, July 26, between 10 a.m. and 9 p.m. may have been exposed to the virus and should monitor themselves for symptoms through August 16.
Park officials said they are cooperating with the health department. "The safety and security of our guests and team members is our highest priority," a Universal Studios Hollywood spokesperson said.
Measles is highly contagious and can cause pneumonia, brain swelling and death. Dr. Muntu Davis, the Los Angeles County Health Officer, stressed that "measles spreads easily and can lead to serious complications."
About one in five people who get measles are hospitalized. A characteristic rash typically appears three to five days after the first symptoms, starting at the hairline and spreading down across the body. Symptoms usually begin within 7 to 14 days after exposure and may last up to 10 days.
Measles spreads through coughing, sneezing and airborne droplets. Those who are fully vaccinated or were born before 1957 have an extremely low risk of contracting the disease.
Ventura County's high vaccination rates and experienced public health staff are key advantages, according to Dr. Castel. Officials encourage residents to check their vaccination records, especially before international travel.
Earlier in July, Los Angeles County health officials also issued a measles exposure warning for travelers at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) after a separate measles case was confirmed. Public health officials urged anyone who was at the airport on the specified date to verify their vaccination status and monitor for symptoms.
The 2026 case count has already surpassed the total for all of 2025, according to the CDC, underscoring the continued resurgence of the disease.
Measles was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000, but vaccination gaps have allowed the disease to return. The CDC has recorded more than 2,300 measles cases in 2026, the highest number since 1991. About 93% of cases this year are among people who are unvaccinated or whose vaccination status is unknown.
Check your vaccination status. Review vaccination records to ensure you and your family are up to date on the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine.
If you were at an exposed location during the listed times, monitor for symptoms like fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes or a rash. Symptoms can appear 7 to 21 days after exposure. Call a doctor before going to a clinic or hospital so health workers can isolate you from other patients.
Notify your health care provider as soon as possible if you are pregnant, have an infant under 12 months of age, have a weakened immune system, or are unimmunized. Early contact allows your provider to give guidance on next steps and helps prevent further exposure.
Health officials also noted that children under 12 months old are too young to be vaccinated, leaving them especially vulnerable if exposed to the virus.
Health officials advise anyone who was at one of the listed exposure sites to see their health care provider for testing, even if they do not have symptoms.
Ventura County has established a Measles Information Line for the public at (805) 652-7599.
For more information, call Ventura County Public Health at (805) 652-7599 or visit the Ventura County Public Health website.
More information is available at the California Department of Public Health's measles webpage and the CDC's measles tracking page.
