photo credit: Wikimedia/Wellcome Collection
Visible signs of infection on the back of a measles patient.

This week, Napa County confirmed it's first case of measles since 2012.

According to Napa Public Health Officer, Dr. Christine Wu, the patient is an unvaccinated child who had traveled out of state.

"What I can tell you is that from our case investigations the [child] is doing doing fine at home [and] has not required hospitalization," Wu said.

Doctors and clinicians who suspect an individual may be infected with measles are required to report the case to public health officials.

Wu said the child contracted the disease after visiting South Carolina, where health officials say there is currently a large measles outbreak.

"I can tell you that every single person person that was exposed to this case has been contacted," Wu said.

Napa County Health and Human Services is recommending all unvaccinated individuals ages one year and older receive measles vaccination to protect themselves and those around them.

Wu said many Napa school children are already protected.

"Our kindergarten MMR vaccination rate this school year is 99%," Wu said.

Measles is a highly contagious respiratory virus. It spreads through the air and can remain airborne or on surfaces for up to two hours after an infected person leaves the area.

Symptoms of measles include fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, and a rash that typically begins on the face and spreads downward across the body.

Wu urged unvaccinated individuals to get immunized against measles, and said the common Measles-Mumps-Rubella vaccine is safe and highly effective, providing lifelong immunity after two doses.

"The MMR vaccine...has a 97% efficacy," Wu said.

Wu and the Napa health department say there is currently no risk to the general public.

*An earlier version of this article has been updated to note that there is currently no risk to the general public.