Sacramento County officials confirm 6 new measles cases in an outbreak primarily affecting unvaccinated children, highlighting the importance of vaccination.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Sacramento County health officials are raising concerns about a growing measles outbreak after confirming six new cases, bringing the total to 11 so far this year.
Health leaders say the increase is significant, especially in a region where measles cases have historically been rare, sometimes reporting zero cases in an entire year.
Officials now describe the situation as an outbreak, citing evidence of ongoing community spread rather than isolated cases. The six newly confirmed cases all involve children.
Public health officials say the virus is primarily spreading among unvaccinated children, with several cases linked to households and community gatherings.
While officials say the overall risk to the general public remains low, they stress the risk is significantly higher for people who are not vaccinated or not fully vaccinated.
Of the 11 confirmed cases in Sacramento County, 10 people had no vaccination record, and one person had received a single dose of the measles vaccine.
Health experts emphasize measles is one of the most contagious diseases known to humans.
“15 people can be infected from one individual with measles. You don’t even have to come in direct contact with the person who’s infectious. The virus can linger in the air for up to two hours after somebody leaves a room. So, if you walk into a room where somebody was infected within an hour or two, infection can occur, and that’s why we worry so much about it,” said UC Davis Chief of Pediatric Infectious Disease Dr. Dean Blumberg. “We worry that there can be more explosive outbreaks and so every single case we take very seriously.”
Health officials say this outbreak differs from previous years, when cases were typically linked to international travel and did not lead to further spread in the community.
So far, none of the Sacramento County cases have required hospitalization, and all patients are recovering at home.
Still, doctors warn measles can lead to serious complications, including pneumonia, dehydration and, in rare cases, inflammation of the brain.
Infants under one year old who are not yet eligible for vaccination are among the most vulnerable, and officials say protecting them depends on higher vaccination rates in the community.
Neighboring Placer County reported no new cases, maintaining a total of eight cases so far this year. However, officials there say additional cases are likely as the outbreak continues to develop.
Health departments across the region say they are working together to track exposures, notify those who may have been affected and prevent further spread. Contact tracing is ongoing for all known cases.
Officials continue to stress that vaccination remains the most effective way to prevent measles and limit the spread, urging anyone who is not up to date on their vaccines to contact a healthcare provider.
Sacramento County says it will continue to provide weekly updates on case numbers as the situation evolves.
WATCH ALSO: Measles outbreak spreads in Placer and Sacramento counties with new exposures
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