MENDOCINO CO., 1/27/26 – Mendocino County Public Health is urging residents to ensure they are vaccinated against measles following confirmation of a measles case in nearby Napa County.
The case, confirmed last Wednesday, involved an unvaccinated child who had traveled out of state. No measles cases have been confirmed in Mendocino County, but public health officials say the nearby case serves as a reminder of how quickly the highly contagious virus can spread.
According to the agency, measles can remain airborne for up to two hours after an infected person leaves a space, and up to 90 percent of unvaccinated people exposed may become infected. Symptoms typically appear seven to 21 days after exposure and include high fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes and a rash that usually begins on the face.
Public health officials note that unvaccinated adults and people with weakened immune systems are also at higher risk of infection and severe illness during a measles outbreak.
According to county data, about 74.1 percent of young children in Mendocino County are vaccinated against measles, a rate public health officials consider a medium risk level. Two doses of the MMR vaccine are about 97 percent effective at preventing infection.
Anyone who believes they may have been exposed is urged to contact a healthcare provider and call ahead before visiting a clinic. Families without a provider may qualify for free vaccination through the California Vaccines for Children program. More information is available at https://www.mendocinocounty.gov/departments/public-health/nursing/vaccines.