MARTINEZ — A person who visited a hospital emergency room in Walnut Creek and was out in public in the eight days ending with Christmas Eve has been confirmed to have measles, health officials in Contra Costa County said Monday.
The exposure to the public came from Dec. 17 to Dec. 24. Those who are unvaccinated, pregnant or immunocompromised and exposed could develop measles within one to three weeks of their exposure.
In a statement, Contra Costa Health Services said the person exposed others in six Walnut Creek stores. The person was at the Anthropologie in the 1100 block of South Main Street on Dec. 17 or 19. On Dec. 18, the person visited the Apple Store in the 1200 block of South Main Street and ALO and Macy’s in the 1200 and 1300 blocks of Broadway Plaza, respectively. On Dec. 23 and 24, the person was at the Kaiser Permanente emergency room in the 1400 block of South Main Street.
More exposure happened at the STAT Med urgent care in the 3700 block of Mount Diablo Boulevard in Lafayette on Dec. 21.
Health officials advised anyone who visited those locations on those days to confirm with their healthcare provider that that have been fully vaccinated against measles or have had a measles infection previously. Those who develop symptoms were urged to stay home and call a healthcare provider immediately.
Those officials also urged anyone without a vaccination to get immunized with two doses of the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine. The respiratory virus lingers in the air or on surfaces for more than an hour after a contagious person leaves the area, they said
Anyone symptom free for more than 21 days after exposure no longer are at risk.
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