California health authorities have issued a measles exposure warning after an unvaccinated Amtrak passenger who was later hospitalised with the disease travelled through at least six California counties between Sept. 10 and Sept. 14.
The California Department of Public Health said anyone who travelled on the same train or bus as the passenger, or was at the same station on the same day, may have been exposed. The journey passed through Alameda, Butte, Kern, Los Angeles, Sacramento and San Joaquin counties.
The passenger left Chicago at 1:30 p.m. on Sept. 10 on an Amtrak train to Los Angeles. The train arrived at Los Angeles Union Station on Sept. 12 at 8:12 a.m.
The department said the passenger then departed Los Angeles at 10:55 a.m. on Sept. 12 and reached Bakersfield station at 1:45 p.m. The itinerary records a departure from Bakersfield at 2:02 p.m. on Sept. 12 and an arrival at Stockton—San Joaquin St Station at 6:29 p.m.
The department’s travel details also list a departure from Stockton at 6:15 p.m. on Sept. 12 and arrival at the Oroville bus/thruway stop at 6:05 p.m. The passenger left Oroville at 4 p.m. on Sept. 13 and arrived at Sacramento Valley Station at 6:05 p.m.
From Sacramento, the passenger departed at 6:53 p.m. on Sept. 13 and arrived at Emeryville Station at 8:36 p.m. The final listed leg left Emeryville at 8:25 a.m. on Sept. 14 and arrived in Denver at 6:59 p.m.
Measles is a highly contagious viral disease. People who have not been vaccinated face the greatest risk of serious illness, particularly young children and pregnant people. Severe consequences can include death.
Dr. Rita Nguyen, the assistant state public health officer, said: “Measles is one of the most contagious infections that can lead to severe, lifelong consequences, including permanent brain damage, and can also be fatal, especially for children”
The warning comes during a wider outbreak in California. The state has recorded 59 measles cases in 13 counties this year. More than 90% of those cases involved people who were unvaccinated or whose vaccination status was unknown.
Nguyen said the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine is safe and provides long-lasting protection against measles. Experts say the risk is very low for people who have already been vaccinated.
Health officials advised people who are not immunised and were exposed less than one week ago to speak with a healthcare provider about vaccination or immune globulin as a preventive measure. Those who are not immunised and were exposed one to three weeks ago should remain at home, limit contact with others for 21 days after exposure and watch for symptoms.
The department did not state whether any secondary cases had been confirmed among people exposed during the journey. It also did not provide details of where the passenger contracted measles, the reason for the travel, or the passenger’s current condition.
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