Active measles case in Shasta County, officials urge vigilance and immunization

Measles is now active in Shasta County. 

On Saturday morning, Shasta County Public Health staff sent out an urgent press release notifying the public of a local patient with measles who may have transmitted the highly infectious disease to others during their 8-day contagious period. 

The patient is currently in isolation to prevent further spread of the disease. 

Public health officials are contacting employees and members of the public who were present at four different locations on Jan. 23, 24, and 28. They include individuals who might have been exposed at Osaka Sushi, Cross Point Church, Costco and the Churn Creek Health Care Clinic. 

The specific dates, times and locations where community members might have been exosed are listed below.

• Osaka Sushi, 1340 Churn Creek Rd., on January 23 from 6:30 to 10 p.m.
• Cross Point Church, during a basketball game on January 24 from 1:45 to 5 p.m.
• Costco, on January 24 from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. 
• Churn Creek Health Care Clinic on January 28 from 1:45 to 5 p.m.

Anyone who was at any of those locations during those specific dates and times could be at risk of contracting measles, public health staff say, if their measles vaccines are not up to date.

The symptoms of measles can include a rash which usually starts on the face, along the hairline and behind the ears before spreading to the rest of the body. Symptoms can also include a high fever, cough, runny nose and red watery eyes. Some individuals may also experience concurrent diarrhea and ear infections.

Usually, measles is contagious for four days before the rash begins, until four days after. The Center for Disease Control says measles is so highly contagious that 90% of unvaccinated people will become ill after being exposed to the disease. The disease can cause serious complications, including pneumonia and encephalitis, particularly in children under five years old.

If you have symptoms of measles it’s important to avoid spreading the disease to others. Do not go to the doctor’s office, a clinic or the local ER to find out if you have the disease. Instead call your doctor or call the Shasta County Measles Hotline at 530-638-5580 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Sunday to speak with public health staff. 

According to Shasta’s Public Health department, the measles vaccine provides 99% effective protection against the disease if an individual has received both doses required. If you’re unsure if you’ve been vaccinated for measles, you can check your vaccine records here.

Measles was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000, according to the CDC, but has now resurged amid lower vaccination rates nationwide. As of Jan. 29, there have been 588 confirmed measles cases in the United States since the beginning of 2026, across 17 jurisdictions, including in California where there have been less than ten cases so far this year.

The vast majority of those who have contracted the disease in the United States in the last year have been unvaccinated. Out of all cases, 11% required hospitalization and three people died.

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