A 47-year-old person who recently traveled overseas has been diagnosed with measles and may have exposed other people to the disease at multiple locations in Encinitas and Carlsbad, county health officials said Sunday.
This is the second case of measles county health officials have diagnosed this year. In February, an infant who had traveled overseas was diagnosed with the highly contagious disease.
The cases are not linked, officials said. The person diagnosed this weekend was still hospitalized Sunday. No details about the patient were released.
Measles develops seven to 21 days after exposure and early symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose and red eyes, officials said. A distinctive red rash usually appears one to four days after early symptoms, they said.
County officials are working with Scripps Encinitas Hospital and Scripps Coastal Medical Center to identify people who may have been exposed.
The county also is working to notify people at certain locations on particular days.
They include Naked Cafe and Ralphs in Encinitas on March 22; Leo Mullin Sports Park on March 23; Trader Joe’s and the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Encinitas on March 24; TinLeaf Fresh Kitchen in Carlsbad and Ralphs in Encinitas on Monday; Scripps Coastal Medical Center Encinitas on Thursday; and the emergency department at Scripps Encinitas Hospital on Friday and Saturday.
“Anyone who was at any of the specific locations and at the dates and times listed above should watch for symptoms and call their health care provider if they show any signs of the disease,” said Dr. Ankita Kadakia, a deputy public health officer for the county. “Measles is a very contagious disease that can be spread easily by coughing, sneezing, or being in the same room with an infected person.”
Complications from measles include diarrhea, ear infection and pneumonia, officials said. Death can occur from severe complications and the risk is higher among younger children and adults, they said.
County officials recommend measles vaccines. They noted on Sunday that the infant diagnosed in February had not been vaccinated.
