Local News

New Measles Case Confirmed in San Diego



Date: March 12, 2014

Another San Diego resident was confirmed to have measles after being exposed to an ill individual who returned from a recent trip to the Philippines. This new case is the third one linked to the original exposure. There have been 32 confirmed measles cases in California in 2014. This latest patient may have exposed persons at the following four locations during the dates and times specified below:

  • Veterans Administration (VA) Chula Vista Clinic, 835 3rd Ave., Chula Vista, from March 3–7 and on March 10 from 7am to 5:30pm.
  • 24 Hour Fitness, 870 Amena Court, Chula Vista, on March 3 between 6:30pm and 10:30pm and March 9 between 6:30pm and 10:30pm.
  • Mater Dei Catholic Church, 1571 Magdalena Ave., Chula Vista, on March 5 between 6:30pm and 9:30pm and March 9 between 5pm and 8pm.
  • Navy Exchange Main Store, Naval Base San Diego, 2260 Callagan Highway, Bldg. 3187a, on March 9 between 3:30pm and 5:30pm.

The County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) issued a press release today notifying the public about potential exposures. HHSA, VA, and Navy health officials are contacting individuals who were known to be at the listed locations during the exposure periods to determine if they are at risk for developing measles.

People who have not been vaccinated, or who have not had measles, may contact their providers for evaluation and preventive treatment if appropriate. Click here for guidance from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) on measles post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). Click here for additional guidance from CDPH on the administration of Immune Globulin for measles prophylaxis.

Medical providers should review their infection control procedures and proactively document measles immunity for all staff members at medical facilities. Clinicians should take care to order “measles” or “rubeola” titers when trying to ascertain immunity, although the latter may be easily confused with a “rubella” titer. Click here for CDPH guidance on healthcare facility infection control recommendations for suspect measles patients.

If measles is suspected in a patient, immediately notify the County Epidemiology and Immunization Services Branch (EISB) (866) 358-2966 Monday–Friday 8am–5pm and (619) 692-8499 after hours and on weekends. Specimen collection on suspect patients is described here. Questions about PEP management may also be directed to EISB.

Thank you for your continued participation,

CAHAN San Diego
County of San Diego, Health & Human Services Agency
Epidemiology and Immunization Services Branch
Phone: (619) 692-8499, Fax: (858) 715-6458
Urgent Phone for pm / weekends / holidays: (858) 565-5255
Email: cahan@sdcounty.ca.gov
Secure Website: http://cahan.ca.gov
Public-Access Website: http://www.cahansandiego.com

CAHAN San Diego Alerts are intended for the use of public health, medical and laboratory professionals in San Diego County. This alert has been approved for reproduction and distribution to interested professionals. An online CAHAN San Diego application is available at http://www.cahansandiego.com for appropriate and interested individuals.


Comments are closed.