By Miriam Raftery

Photo via Centers for Disease Control

September 3, 2024 (La Mesa)  - If you or your children visited Rady Grossmont Pediatric Unit in La Mesa on August 20,  or Rady Children’s Hospital Emergency Room in San Diego on August 25, you may have been exposed to measles. 

A 13-month-old unvaccinated infant who contracted measles while traveling overseas was seen at these locations. The child is the fourth case of measles locally this year.  Measles is a serious illness that spreads easily, so anyone with symptoms is urged to contact their healthcare provider.  

Source: County News Service

March 31, 2024 (San Diego)—An adult who contracted measles overseas may have exposed others to measles in late March at multiple locations in Encinitas and Carlsbad, the County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency announced Sunday.

There are measles outbreaks currently in 46 nations and 17 U.S. states.  The Centers for Disease Control recently updated its guidelines for travelers regarding measles.

“Measles is a very contagious disease that can be spread easily by coughing, sneezing, or being in the same room with an infected person,” said Ankita Kadakia, M.D., County deputy public health officer. “Anyone who was at any of the specific locations and at the dates and times listed (see below) should watch for symptoms and call their health care provider if they show any signs of the disease.”

By Tom Christensen, County of San Diego Communications Office

August 7, 2019 (San Diego) - The first case of measles this year in San Diego County has been confirmed in an 11-month-old resident who had recently traveled to the Philippines, the County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency announced Wednesday.

The unimmunized infant is currently hospitalized, but may have exposed others while seeking care at the following locations:

• Kaiser Permanente Otay Mesa Medical Offices, 4650 Palm Ave., San Diego, CA 92154 on the following dates and times: July 29 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in the Pediatric Clinic; August 4 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Pediatric Clinic, Urgent Care and Pharmacy; and August 5 from 4:45 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. in the Pediatric Clinic.
•   Kaiser Permanente San Diego Medical Center, 9455 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., San Diego, CA 92123: August 5 from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. in the Emergency Department.

By Miriam Raftery; Kristin Kjaero contributed to this report

February 6, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) – The current measles epidemic  has focused attention on concerns over parents who decline to vaccinate their children.  In East County and San Diego’s inland region (East of I-15) the rate of unvaccinated children in local kindergartens is as high as 90% (at Holy Trinity, a private school in El Cajon)  down to just 1% unvaccinated at Mt. Vernon Elementary in Lemon Grove.

Countywide, the rate of kindergartners who are unvaccinated or not current on vaccine boosters  is 7.6%.

East County News Service

Photo courtesy 10 News, an ECM news partner

Update January 15, 2015 - The Urgent Care is now reopened.

January 14, 2015 (La Mesa) – The Sharp Rees-Stealy Urgent Care on the campus of Grossmont Hospital in La Mesa  temporarily shut down due to six patients who came in today with rashes and symptoms consistent with measles. The clinic reopened in the evening.

The patients arrived shortly before noon and were soon isolated after healthcare workers recognized symptoms of measles, a highly contagious disease that can be spread by coughing or sneezing. Tests were conducted to confirm whether the patients in fact have measles; results are pending.

Passengers on the flight are urged to call their doctor before seeking treatment for symptoms so that infection-control can be implemented to prevent spread of the contagious disease.