State officials announce measles outbreak in Shasta County, with eight cases now confirmed

2.10.2026 3:40 p.m.: Update from the county’s press release

The Shasta Health and Human Services Agency published a press release earlier today about the seven new measles cases. The release confirmed the information already made public by the state yesterday, saying that the additional cases are an “expected development based on early contact tracing.”

The agency explained that all seven of the new patients were close contacts of the first case, who have been working closely with Public Health “from the beginning” and agreed to stay home to isolate before becoming contagious. The agency said that since the individuals with measles isolated, they did not have contact with the public, and no new exposure sites have been designated.

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Shasta County’s initial measles case has now expanded to an outbreak with eight confirmed cases, state officials have announced. 

In a press release sent out yesterday, the California Department of Public Health urged Californians to ensure they’re fully vaccinated against measles as local health departments across the state are reporting new cases. 

So far, cases have been reported in Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, Riverside and Shasta Counties, with Shasta having the most reported cases. The state public health department said that this outbreak is the state’s first measles outbreak since 2020, and that all of the individuals who contracted measles were either unvaccinated or had an unknown history of vaccination. 

Shasta Health Officer Dr. James Mu did not initially address the increase in cases in the county this morning during a 10-minute presentation to the board of supervisors that he focused on the health care provider shortage. He briefly discussed the matter after multiple public speakers expressed concerns about the outbreak and after Supervisor Allen Long and Chair Chris Kelstrom questioned him on the increased cases. Mu said the new cases were among the family and neighbors of the first individual identified to have measles in the county in January. 

“This expansion of confirmed number[s] does not pose a threat to the public at the current moment” because the outbreak has not expanded beyond family and neighbors, Mu said during the meeting. He added that the county will provide an update when there are confirmed cases outside of family and neighbors. 

The most recent update about measles coming from the county was on Feb. 6, when a sixth location where the single previously known individual with measles might have exposed others was shared. A spokesperson with the county’s Health and Human Services Agency said in an email to Shasta Scout today that officials are working on a press release to announce the new cases.

As of Feb. 9, a total of 17 measles cases were reported statewide, according to the release, with almost half in Shasta. In South Carolina, where measles has been spreading since last October, there are now 933 reported cases, the state’s public health department said. 

“The United States is experiencing the highest numbers of measles cases, outbreaks, hospitalizations and deaths in more than 30 years, driven by populations with low vaccination rates,” CDPH Director and State Public Health Officer Dr. Erica Pan said in the press release. “We all need to work together to share the medical evidence, benefits, and safety of vaccines to provide families the information they need to protect children and our communities.” 

The department explained that measles is highly contagious, and those who are unvaccinated — particularly young children and pregnant people — face the highest risk of severe illness and even death. About 90% of those who are unvaccinated and exposed to measles will contract the disease, the press release said. 

Supervisor Kevin Crye said during the meeting that while he and his children have been vaccinated, he doesn’t support “forcing” the vaccine on anyone. In comments today and to Shasta Scout last week, Mu encouraged the public to quickly get up to date with the two-dose measles vaccine, if needed. Vaccination status can be checked here. 

Mu also urged anyone experiencing symptoms to contact a medical provider immediately to get tested, though he added that those with symptoms seeking testing or treatment should not go to a public place, such as an emergency room, without calling ahead to ensure special precautions to prevent spread of the disease.

Measles symptoms include a fever that lasts a couple days followed by a rash, runny nose, cough and pink eye. Those infected with measles can spread the disease about four days before a rash appears. 

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