Public health officials in California are alerting residents about a potential measles exposure that could affect multiple counties. This warning follows the travel of an unvaccinated passenger who made their way through the state on Amtrak trains and buses.
This comes amid the largest surge of measles in the US seen in over thirty years, primarily fueled by increasing vaccine hesitancy.
The California Department of Public Health noted that the individual traveled through at least six counties: Alameda, Butte, Kern, Los Angeles, Sacramento, and San Joaquin, while making several transfers along the way.
Officials reported that the passenger entered California via an Amtrak train that reached Los Angeles on September 10. After arriving in Los Angeles, this traveler went on to Bakersfield, followed by stops in Stockton, Oroville, Sacramento, and Emeryville before departing California for Denver.
Health officials indicated that anyone who shared the same trains or buses, or who was present in the stations during that route on the relevant dates, might have been exposed to measles.
The state is collaborating with local health departments and federal partners to reach out to those who might have been in contact with the infected individual.
“This incident, alongside other measles outbreaks in California this year, underscores how crucial it is to get vaccinated against measles,” stated assistant state public health officer Rita Nguyen. “The measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine is proven to be safe and offers long-lasting protection against measles. Vaccination is essential for safeguarding our families and those who aren’t old enough to be fully vaccinated.”
Currently, Pennsylvania is facing the worst measles outbreak in the country, with 731 confirmed cases across 38 counties this year, and unfortunately, at least four individuals have died due to measles-related illnesses.
In response, Pennsylvania is seeking emergency help from the CDC to manage the ongoing outbreak. However, state officials have cautioned that this appeal could be rescinded unless the CDC acknowledges the four deaths connected to measles, which US health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had previously instructed the CDC to avoid.
As the death toll rises, Kennedy recently spoke at a conference held by the anti-vaccine group Children’s Health Defense, which he has led for almost ten years. He briefly referenced the Pennsylvania outbreak during his speech but primarily focused on promoting unfounded fears regarding vaccines—this comes at a time when health experts are urgently advocating for vaccination against measles.
Moreover, California’s warning follows another recent incident of mass exposure involving Amtrak. Earlier this week, it was reported that an individual with measles traveled on a train from Sedalia, Missouri, to Chicago, Illinois, putting over 250 people at risk in Jackson County alone.
This month has also seen reports that the Trump administration altered how measles deaths are recorded amid the outbreak. The CDC now employs data from the National Center for Health Statistics for tracking mortality trends over time, though the reasons for this change remain unclear.
