Fresno County confirmed a measles case linked to international travel, highlighting the risks of the highly contagious disease and the need for vaccination, especially amid rising outbreaks across the U.S. (AP File)
- A Fresno County resident who was unvaccinated and traveled internationally has contracted measles, with the individual recovering and quarantining at home.
- The individual attended a large faith-based event in Madera on March 2, and health officials are reaching out to attendees to monitor potential exposures.
- Health authorities emphasized the importance of vaccination, especially for international travelers, as measles outbreaks continue to spread in the U.S.
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The Fresno County Department of Public Health, in collaboration with the Madera County Department of Public Health, confirmed a case of measles involving a local resident who had not been vaccinated and had traveled internationally.
Health officials said the Fresno County adult is recovering and quarantining at home. They said that the adult was pretty sick and had the full range of measles symptoms.
While health officials did not disclose the location the individual traveled to, they emphasized the importance of vaccination in preventing outbreaks, especially for those traveling abroad.
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Madera County Involvement With Measles Case
Health officials said that the individual had attended a large faith-based event in Madera on March 2.
The group, which has an attendee list from the conference, is reaching out to those who were in contact with the infected individual and communicating with health officials.
Most attendees were from Fresno, according to Dr. Paul Simon, health officer of the Madera County Department of Public Health. He said the the faith group was not linked to anti-vaccine sentiments.
Measles Highly Contagious, a Threat to Unvaccinated People
Measles, a highly contagious respiratory disease, spreads through the air when an infected person breathes, sneezes, or coughs. It is most common in children and can be fatal.
The incubation period for measles is typically about seven days, with a quarantine period of 21 days following the onset of symptoms to prevent further transmission, health officials said.
Health authorities reiterated that those who are vaccinated with the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine are protected against the disease, while unvaccinated individuals remain at risk.
Dr. Simon stressed the importance of checking vaccination records, especially for those traveling internationally with children. If records cannot be found, a blood test to check for immunity is recommended from your primary care provider, he said.
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Fresno County didn’t see any measles in 2024 or or the first two months of 2025. However, there were two cases in 2023 tied to international travel.
Dr. Rais Vohra, interim health officer for the Fresno County Department of Public Health, noted that misinformation about vaccines is a growing concern.
He explained that the success of the MMR vaccine over decades has reduced the visibility of diseases like measles, leading to lower vaccination rates among those who have not witnessed the disease firsthand.
Health officials urged people to vaccinate without hesitation, and Dr. Vohra talked about a newer vaccine, MMRV, which also covers the chickenpox virus.
Measles Outbreak in the US
On Friday, the Associated Press reported that Texas has the highest number of measles cases of any U.S. state this year with 200, one of which resulted in a child’s death.
Meanwhile, New Mexico has reported about 30 cases. The AP also noted that measles cases have been identified in Alaska, California, Georgia, Kentucky, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island.
The CDC defines an outbreak as three or more related cases, and three measles clusters have been classified as outbreaks in 2025. In the U.S., most cases and outbreaks can be traced back to individuals who contracted the disease abroad, with the virus then spreading, particularly in areas with low vaccination rates.
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