Measles cases in the US are on the rise, prompting health officials to urge residents in the Bay Area to get vaccinated. According to recent reports, measles cases have reached over 300 in west Texas and New Mexico, resulting in two deaths – the first reported deaths from the disease in the US since 2015.
The Association of Bay Area Health Officials recommends vaccination for all individuals who never received a measles vaccine or avoided contracting the disease as children. Despite the risk being low in the region, officials stress the importance of getting vaccinated to prevent serious illness and death.
San Francisco Health Officer Dr. Susan Philip notes that measles is one of the most contagious viruses, but can be prevented with the MMR vaccine. She advises families to get vaccinated if their children are not fully vaccinated or if they themselves did not contract measles as children.
Currently, California has reported five measles cases linked to international travel. However, health officials assure there is no evidence that these cases are connected to the outbreaks in New Mexico and Texas.
Key risk groups include children under 5 years old, adults over 20, pregnant women, and individuals with compromised immune systems. Symptoms of measles can be severe, including fever, cough, runny nose, pink eye, and a rash.
Source: https://www.mercurynews.com/2025/03/14/message-from-bay-area-doctors-get-vaccinated-for-measles