MENDOCINO CO., 2/11/26 – Mendocino County Public Health officials on Wednesday urged residents to make sure they are vaccinated against measles after state health authorities confirmed 17 cases in California.
No cases have been reported in Mendocino County, but officials said the virus has been detected in other Northern California counties, including an outbreak in Shasta County.
“Measles is one of the most contagious diseases we face, spreading easily through the air,” said Dr. Charles Evans, the county’s deputy public health officer. “With residents traveling for school, work and recreation, the risk of it reaching our county is real. The MMR vaccine remains our best protection, especially for infants and people with weakened immune systems.”
According to public health, symptoms usually begin with a high fever, cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes, followed by a rash that starts on the face and spreads to the rest of the body. People can spread measles four days before the rash appears and up to four days after.
Anyone with symptoms should call their health care provider before going to a clinic or hospital to avoid exposing others, officials said.
Residents can check their vaccination records through the state’s online Digital Vaccine Record portal or by contacting their health care provider.
Most insurance plans cover the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine. Residents without a provider can call Mendocino County Public Health at (707) 472-2713 to ask about free vaccinations for eligible children and schedule an appointment.
For more information about measles and vaccines, visit https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/Immunization/measles.aspx.
Something that is almost never mentioned in measles articles is the presence of “Koplik’s spots”
As a young stupid hippie (i didnt vaccinate her according to schedule) my daughter got measles, her only sign was Koplik’s spots in her mouth.
The measles wasn’t a serious illness for her, but I did learn that measles is extremely dangerous for babies in utero. An pregnant woman exposed to measles is highly likely to miscarry and if not, the baby is highly likely to be born with birth defects. Sometimes it’s about protecting others.