Breanna Reeves
Riverside County confirmed the first case of measles in the region — the first case in the county since 2018, according to health officials with Riverside University Health System — Public Health (RUHS – PH)
According to the county, the adult who tested positive for measles is a resident of eastern Riverside County and has a recent history of international travel. The county could not confirm if the resident had a measles vaccination.
The California Department of Public Health has identified nine cases of measles in the state, including the recent Riverside County case. Cases have been confirmed in Fresno, Los Angeles, Orange, Placer, San Mateo and Tuolumne counties.
“Those who travel internationally to areas with ongoing measles transmission may be at risk for exposure. It’s important to check and make sure you are up to date on your vaccines, at least two weeks prior to international travel,” stated Riverside County Public Health Officer Dr. Jennifer Chevinsky in a press release.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed that in 2023, an estimated 10.3 million people were infected with measles. Measles is highly contagious and is easily spread when an infected person sneezes, coughs or talks. Symptoms of measles include a cough, runny nose, pink eye and a rash.
As of April 3, 2025, the CDC reported a total of 607 confirmed measles cases that were reported by 22 states and there have been 6 outbreaks among these jurisdictions. Of the confirmed cases, 32% (196) were among children under the age of five.
Health officials attribute the increase in measles cases among children to declining vaccination rates among school-aged children.
One dose of the Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine is recommended for infants as young as six months old, before international travel to reduce the risk of contracting measles while in countries where measles is spreading.
For standard measles protection for children, one dose of MMR vaccine is recommended at 12 months of age and another at four to six years of age.
According to RUHS Public Health, for older children, adolescents and most adults without documented doses of the MMR vaccine, two doses separated by at least 28 days is recommended to provide protection. However, for adults born after 1957, one dose of the live measles vaccine is sufficient to be considered protected from measles.