There are two confirmed cases of measles in nearby Tuolumne County.

And that, according to Manteca resident Steve Jacobs, should concern you.

Jacobs knows a thing or two about measles.

He is a retired Kaiser Permanente pediatrician who practiced medicine in Modesto for 35 years

Jacobs recalled the last significant outbreak of measles in the United States.

There were 100 deaths nationally — including 89 in 1990, with 20 percent of those who died being from San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties.

“It’s not just something that affects children,” Jacobs noted during a presentation Thursday to the Manteca Rotary.

The local death toll included three adults, two of who were nurses caring for children with measles.

There were 55,000 people sickened by measles in the United States between 1989 through 1991. That was the highest number in the nation since the 1970s.

As of March 25, the California Department of Public Health has confirmed eight cases statewide. They have been in Tuolumne, Placer, Fresno, Los Angeles, Orange, and San Mateo counties.

Nationally, 341 measles cases have been confirmed with two deaths so far.

There were 285 measles cases during all of 2024 in the United States. There were no deaths.

“It’s worse than COVID,” Jacobs said given there is no effective way to treat it.

That said, the MMR vaccine that targets the prevention of the spreading of measles, mumps, and rubella) has proven extremely effective at helping prevent people from contracting measles.

Research by the Centers for Disease Control indicates for people who have not been vaccinated, the likelihood of getting measles after an exposure is all but certain, Jacobs said.

Part of the problem is the fact those with measles are contagious before they show signs of being sick.

The state health department notes:

*The MMR vaccine is effective. Two doses provide 97% protection against measles.  

*Measles is very contagious. Measles spreads when someone infected speaks, coughs, sneezes or breathes. It can linger in the air up to two hours after the infected person has left.   

*Unvaccinated people are at high risk. Roughly 90% of those unvaccinated and exposed to measles will contract the disease. 

And although measles were listed as  eradicated in the U.S., in 2000, the growing number of people not receiving the MMR vaccine has grown as the years have gone by. 

Measles begins with a fever that lasts a couple of days. It's followed by a cough, runny nose, pink eye, and rash.

The rash usually appears on the face, along the hairline and behind the ears. 

Then it affects the rest of the body. Those infected can spread measles about four days before their rash starts to  show.

The  CDC recommends two doses of MMR vaccine for:

*Children: one dose at 12 months of age and another at 4-6 years. 

*Older children, adolescents and adults without documented doses of MMR vaccine.

And while those born before before 1957 likely had measles disease and developed life-long immunity and do not need MMR vaccines, Jacobs noted doubling down with shots now “doesn’t hurt.”

 Those vaccinated between 1963-1968 may have received a measles vaccine that was found to have lower effectiveness. Those who had two doses of measles vaccine are not considered to be at risk.

Jacobs said the best source of information is through public health departments.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com