REDDING, Calif. — Shasta County now accounts for nearly half of California’s confirmed measles cases, with eight of the state’s 17 reported infections, county officials said Tuesday.
County Health Officer Dr. James Mu provided the update during a presentation to the Board of Supervisors outlining last year’s public health accomplishments and goals for the year ahead. Mu told supervisors that while vaccination remains a personal choice, he recommends residents get immunized to prevent further spread.
“As of yesterday, we have a total of eight confirmed cases,” Dr. Mu said. “These cases were expected because they involve close family members and close neighbors. So this expansion in confirmed numbers does not pose a threat to the public at the current moment, and those locations and time frames are still the same. If we have additional confirmed cases outside of family members and close neighbors, then we will provide more information…The most important thing is the vaccine does prevent measles. It’s not too late if you’re not fully vaccinated against measles. So get vaccinated.”
RELATED | Shasta County measles cases rise to eight; officials say community spread remains limited
The outbreak update came amid a meeting that also included a discussion of alleged electioneering by County Clerk and Registrar of Voters Clint Curtis. Supervisor Alan Long raised concerns that Curtis, while giving a tour of the county’s vote-counting system, claimed there had been ballot stuffing under the previous registrar. Curtis is facing Assistant Registrar Joanna Francescut in the June primary. County Counsel Joe Larmour said under county code, the conduct described would be considered “incidental.”
“County policy would not be criminally enforced, but could lead to censure for an elected official,” Larmour said during the meeting. “However, county policy provides for the same exception under incidental use.”
The meeting concluded with a protest from in-home supportive services workers who are dissatisfied with the county’s pay scale. The workers marched out of the boardroom, chanting in protest.
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