What public health thought was a tenth measles case in Shasta County in 2026 turned out to be a misdiagnosis, the agency said.
A measles confirmation test administered to a patient — originally identified as having measles on March 23 — came back negative for the disease, Shasta County Health and Human Services Agency announced Tuesday.
“As a result, the Shasta County measles outbreak, first identified Jan. 30, ended on March 30,” the agency reported, and “the county’s final measles case count so far this year is nine.”
The nine people with confirmed measles cases in 2026 fully recovered from the highly contagious illness, public health said in the announcement.
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While the final diagnosis for the tenth patient was not measles, the agency encouraged people to talk with their doctor about getting the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine this year after the county reported more outbreak than any other in the state since Jan. 1. The vaccine is “the best way to protect oneself against measles. It is 93% effective with a single dose and 97% effective with two doses,” public health said.
County public health also advised people to limit travel to areas with active measles cases — measles outbreak — unless they’re fully vaccinated against the disease.
“Those who believe they have been exposed should isolate and call their physician to prevent future outbreaks,” the agency said.
For more information, call the Shasta County Measles Information Line at 530-638-5580 or go to the county’s measles information web page at shastacounty.gov/health-human-services/page/facts-about-measles.
Jessica Skropanic is a features reporter for the Record Searchlight/USA Today Network. She covers science, arts, social issues and news stories. Follow her on Twitter @RS_JSkropanic and on Facebook. Join Jessica on Record Searchlight Facebook groups Get Out! Nor Cal , Today in Shasta County and Shaping Redding’s Future. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today. Thank you.
This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Measles case was misdiagnosis, Shasta County Public Health says
Reporting by Jessica Skropanic, Redding Record Searchlight / Redding Record Searchlight
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