West Sacramento resident diagnosed with measles. Others may have been exposed

A West Sacramento resident who was diagnosed with measles, the first case this year across Yolo and Sacramento counties, may have exposed the virus to other patients and medical staff after arriving at the Sutter Davis Hospital, a Yolo County spokesperson said in a news release Friday.

The infected person has a “mild illness” and is recovering at home, according to the release. The individual, whose vaccination status is unknown by county officials, went to Sutter Davis Hospital’s Emergency Department between 10:12 p.m. and 1:42 a.m. May 31 to June 1. They also visited the facility from 2:42 p.m. to 1:23 p.m. Monday, the statement said.

Medical providers identified patients and employees who may have been exposed at the facility at 2000 Sutter Place in Davis and are working to contact those individuals, the release said. Not every exposed visitor has been identified, and Yolo County Public Health Department requested residents call 530-666-8670 if they came to the emergency department on those dates and times.

The measles virus was recently detected in wastewater samples collected by the Sacramento Area Sewer District. Officials found measles markers in samples collected across multiple days in May and once again in June, according to Yolo County’s news release.

The presence of the virus this month in samples indicates an additional person may be infected with the highly contagious illness, according to a news release.

“Although the June detections may be linked to this individual, the May wastewater detections cannot be,” the release said. “An investigation into the source of the earlier detections is ongoing and it remains possible that another unknown individual with measles was present in the area.”

Two people in Yolo County, who traveled internationally, reported measles cases in 2024, the first time the illness surfaced in the county since 2015.

The West Sacramento resident’s case marks the 13th case in California this year. Another Placer County resident was positive for measles this year, according to the California Department of Public Health.

An airborne virus, measles can result in serious health complications, especially in young children younger than 5 years old, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It can lead to blindness or death, according to previous Bee reporting.

An infected person will experience symptoms from about a week to two weeks after exposure, according to the CDC.

The best protection against measles is a measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, administered in two doses, according to Yolo County Public Health officials.

“This case of measles in our community is a good reminder that while international travelers and those traveling to outbreak areas within the U.S. are at highest risk of measles, residents can also encounter measles during travel to non-outbreak areas or even within our local community,” said Dr. Aimee Sisson, Yolo County Public health officer, in a release. “It is important to check your measles vaccination status to make sure you are protected against measles infection.”

This story was originally published June 6, 2025 at 1:54 PM.