Santa Clara Resident Infected With Measles Traveled Through SFO, Health Officials Say

“Because of our very high vaccination rates and folks who had measles decades ago before there was a vaccine, we are very well protected as a community here in the Bay Area,” Dr. Sarah Rudman, the county’s public health officer, said.

The possible exposure comes as the county hosts thousands of soccer fans for the World Cup tournament, which kicked off locally on Saturday.

As of Sunday afternoon, the state Department of Public Health dashboard reported 49 confirmed measles cases, though that number doesn’t appear to include Santa Clara’s latest case. The number of state-confirmed cases has sat steady since at least mid-May.

If confirmed by CDPH, Santa Clara’s case would be the 50th this year.

State health officials reported half that — 25 confirmed cases — across the state last year.

“This is becoming more and more common,” Rudman said in a media availability on Saturday. “A year ago, I would have said this is incredibly rare. And now this is already our second case of the year.”

In February, the county reported its first measles case of the year when a vaccinated resident returned from international travel. Before 2025, the county hadn’t recorded a measles case since 2019.

The U.S. recorded its highest number of cases in 2025, 25 years after the disease was declared eliminated.

California’s numbers also rose last year, state data shows. Since 2023, measles cases have increased every year. The last time cases surpassed current 2026 numbers was in 2019, when 72 cases were reported.

Rudman said that the county is working with federal and state officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the state Department of Public Health to identify any people who may have been exposed.

Measles symptoms include a runny nose, fever, cough and rash, according to the CDC. The first symptoms can appear up to two weeks after infection.

Children, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to experience complications because of the disease.

Santa Clara health officials said that people should monitor for symptoms for 21 days after the potential exposure and not attend large gatherings.

“Given the number of large international events currently happening throughout the Bay Area, it is especially important that any unvaccinated, exposed individual quarantines to the best of their ability and avoids contact with others if feeling unwell,” the Department said in a statement.

If symptoms do appear, health officials advise contacting your doctor right away.