Possible Measles Exposure in Burlingame Panda Express, Health Officials Warn

A Santa Clara County resident with an active measles infection may have exposed others while visiting a Burlingame restaurant this week, Santa Clara County public health officials said.

The Santa Clara County Public Health Department said in a statement on Friday that the adult measles patient had “recently returned from international travel,” and that their case was reported to the county late Wednesday.

Officials said the possible exposures may have occurred at a Panda Express, located at 1453 Burlingame Ave., in San Mateo County, on either Monday or Tuesday between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

The fast food restaurant is located in Burlingame’s Fox Mall Shopping Center, off El Camino Real.

• Jump straight to: How can vaccinated people get measles?

The measles patient “visited private work and healthcare locations” in addition to dining at the Panda Express location, according to a statement from the county.

Santa Clara public health officials said they are working with neighboring San Mateo and the California Department of Public Health “to identify and contact all individuals who may have been exposed.”

The infected person was previously vaccinated against measles (more on this below), and “is now isolating at home,” according to the county.

What should I do if I think I was exposed to measles?

According to the Santa Clara County Public Health Department, members of the public who “may have been exposed at the following location and times should stay home and contact their health provider immediately before seeking care.”

What are the symptoms of measles?

Symptoms of measles include fever, cough, runny nose and pink eye, followed a few days later by a rash.

These symptoms can emerge between seven and 21 days after exposure.

The CDC has a timeline of how measles symptoms appear on the body and how to recognize a measles rash.

How can a vaccinated person get measles?

Measles is preventable with the combined measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, and vaccination against measles has for decades been part of routine childhood immunization. The CDC said two doses of the measles vaccine are “about 97% effective” at preventing measles if you’re exposed, and one dose is “about 93% effective.”

According to the CDC, 92% of 2026 measles cases nationwide have occurred in people who either aren’t vaccinated or whose vaccination status is unknown, and 4% of patients report only having one MMR shot.

But the CDC’s 2026 data also show that 4% of measles cases are in people who’ve had both MMR doses — as is the case with the Santa Clara patient reported Friday.

So-called breakthrough cases in vaccinated measles patients are not unprecedented, according to Dr. Sarah Rudman, Santa Clara County’s health officer.

Rudman said that when “there’s this much measles spreading around, both around the country and internationally,” vaccinated people can still be infected, although it’s less common. Rudman clarified that the majority of cases still occur in unvaccinated people.

Rudman also echoed the CDC’s guidance that measles cases in vaccinated people tend to be less severe than in unvaccinated people. People with two MMR vaccine doses are likely to only be “moderately sick,” she said, and recovering “faster and are less infectious, which means the disease spreads less.”

“That’s one more reason why it’s so important for the community to have high rates of immunity against measles by being up to date on vaccination,” she said.

What if you have two vaccine doses but are now worried about being infected with measles? Rudman said that for most people who have a record of their vaccination or a childhood case of measles, “it’s not necessary to go check your measles immunity status.”

However, Rudman said, for those who are vulnerable due to their medical history, an upcoming travel plan or medical treatment, “it might make sense to talk to your doctor and check your immune status.” She said this can be done by verifying vaccination records or by a blood test for proof of immunity.

Read more about how titer tests can assess your immunity against measles, and how to ask your provider about getting one.

What’s going on with measles in 2026?

The Santa Clara case marks the 22nd measles case in California in 2026, with the county’s first confirmed measles case in a resident since May 2025. It’s believed to be the Bay Area’s fourth measles case in 2026, with previous cases reported by San Mateo and Napa counties.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s most recent data, 1,136 cases of the highly contagious disease have already been reported around the United States this year — with the majority of cases fueled by an outbreak in South Carolina. Last year saw a total of 2,144 confirmed cases, in contrast to just 285 cases in 2024.

KQED’s Vanessa Rancaño contributed to this report.