VENTURA COUNTY, CA - Since mid-December, the State of California has confirmed 92 cases of measles as of Monday, February 2nd. Ventura County has now reported 10 cases. Despite the increase in number of cases, most people have immunity to measles. “Probably 95% of the population is immune to measles because they had 2 MMRs, their childhood measles shots,” said Dr. Robert Levin, Health Officer for Ventura County.

At this time, 91.6% of all children entering kindergarten in Ventura County have had 2 MMR shots and are thus immune to catching the disease. There are schools in the county with a particularly low rate of MMR immunization. One private school on the east end of the county has a measles immunization rate of 67%. Most public schools in Oxnard, on the other hand, have a measles immunization rate of 100%.

Symptoms of measles include cough, runny nose, reddened eyes, fever, a rash and often, tiny sores in the mouth. A person with measles may only have a few of these symptoms. “Most people with measles feel quite sick, as sick as someone feels with the flu,” said Dr. Levin. Measles is a very contagious disease and entirely preventable. While not as deadly as Ebola, for instance, it is 5 to 15 times more contagious. People who contract measles are contagious for 4 days before they develop the rash and for 4 more days after they develop the rash.

For information on a Public Health clinic near you if you are in need of immunizations, please call: 805-981-5221; for a Ventura County Health Care Agency Ambulatory Care clinic near you, please call: 805-677-5110.