A person with measles is believed to have passed through San Francisco International Airport and visited two businesses in San Jose this week.
The Santa Clara County Department of Public Health has urged unvaccinated people who may have been exposed to measles to self-quarantine to help prevent the virus from spreading rapidly.
On Thursday between 8:30 and 11 a.m., the Bay Area resident visited SFO Airport, “including passport control, customs, and the international baggage claim area,” according to the health center’s statement.
Then, between 8 and 10 p.m. that night, the person — who the department declined to identify or describe due to medical privacy concerns — visited both Trader Joe’s grocery stores at 635 Coleman Ave. and International Halal Market at 960 E. Santa Clara St., both in San Jose.
Anyone who visited those areas during those times “may be at risk of contracting measles seven to 10 days after individual exposure. Any unvaccinated person traveling or joining large gatherings should be aware of their increased risk of measles if exposed,” the statement said.
“Exposures like this remind us of the importance of vaccination. Fortunately, the Bay Area region has strong public immunity, either because of our very high vaccination rates or from childhood exposure decades ago,” said Dr. Sarah Rudman, Santa Clara County health officer and public health director.
“Two shots of the MMR or MMRV vaccine continue to be the best protection against measles and can stop measles outbreaks in their tracks.”
Anyone who may have been exposed to measles should first determine if they have been vaccinated against measles by checking their vaccination records, advises the state Department of Health. People should watch for one to three weeks after possible exposure for symptoms including fever, cough, runny nose, rash or red eyes.
If they develop such symptoms, the department’s statement said, they should call ahead to notify any health care provider or facility they plan to visit that they may be at risk of contracting the virus. Anyone who may have been exposed to measles should see a doctor immediately if they are pregnant, an infant, unvaccinated, or have a weakened immune system, according to the department.
“Do not go to large gatherings. Measles is one of the most contagious diseases in the world and it spreads quickly,” said the statement.
The department is working with the state Department of Public Health and the US Centers for Disease Control to conduct contact tracing.
As of June 8, there have been 49 confirmed cases of measles in California, according to the California Department of Public Health. Of those, 94% were unvaccinated, and more than 80% were under the age of 19.
Although “the Bay Area region enjoys the highest measles vaccination rates,” the anti-vax movement, religious beliefs and other factors have led to pockets of high unvaccinated rates in many states.
As of recently February 2026 again May 2025The Santa Clara County Health Department has warned about possible exposure to measles after people with the virus have passed through public places.
In the first eight months of 2025, more than 750 cases of measles were reported during a massive outbreak in west Texas that sickened dozens of unvaccinated residents and killed two people.
