Measles exposure in Kern County

A person diagnosed with measles stayed in Kern County while infectious. From July 4-5 the person stayed at the DoubleTree Hotel located at 3100 Camino Del Rio Court, Bakersfield. Anyone who visited the DoubleTree Hotel during this time may have been exposed to measles. Measles is a highly contagious disease that spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes and will stay in the air for up to one hour afterward.

Most people who were born or attended elementary school in the U.S. after 1970 have been vaccinated with the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine (MMR) or the measles, mumps, rubella and varicella vaccine (MMRV). Two doses of measles-containing vaccine prevents the measles disease in more than 99 percent of cases. Most people who were born prior to 1957 had measles as a child and are immune to measles disease.

Anyone who has been exposed and is not immune should watch for symptoms until July 26. If you have symptoms, contact your healthcare provider by phone. Please do not enter a healthcare facility (doctor’s office, urgent care, emergency room) without first notifying the facility that you may have been exposed to measles and now have symptoms. To avoid spread of this disease, if you have symptoms, please stay home until you have been evaluated by a medical professional and avoid going to school, work or other public places.

Measles symptoms can include high fever (101°F and above), cough, runny nose, red eyes and a rash that starts at the hairline and travels downward to the rest of the body. Measles can develop into pneumonia and cause life-threatening complications.

There have been no confirmed cases of measles in Kern County residents this year and there is no known ongoing risk to the public.

For more information call (661) 321-3000.