Measles case detected at SFO days before World Cup start

Travelers at the often bustling international terminal at San Francisco Airport may have been exposed to the highly contagious measles virus days before the start of the World Cup, according to a news release from the Santa Clara County Public Health Department.

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The department warned that a person with measles traveled through multiple areas of SFO on June 8, including the international terminal, passport control, customs and the baggage claim area between 8:30 and 11 a.m. On the same day, between the hours of 8 and 10 p.m., the individual also visited two markets in San Jose: a Trader Joe’s store at 635 Coleman Ave. and International Halal Market at 960 E. Santa Clara St. 

Measles is a respiratory virus that can spread via airborne particles. The virus is so infectious that it can infect 90% of people who aren’t protected through either vaccination or a previous infection. Even when a sickened person leaves an area, the airborne droplets can infect unvaccinated people for up to two hours, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The exposures happened three days before the kickoff of the World Cup, held across U.S., Mexico and Canada through mid-July. The weekslong event is expected to bring over to the Bay Area with multiple games being played at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara County.

Dr. Sarah Rudman, the public health officer for Santa Clara County, said in a video that anyone who has not been vaccinated or had measles before should take steps to protect themselves if they were in those areas at those times.

“We are sharing this information so that anyone who was in these locations at the specified times can do what they need to protect their own health and the health of those around them,” she said.

Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease expert at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, said health departments are watching cities hosting World Cup events closely to look for any signs of disease outbreaks that could spread as fans and teams travel for the games.

“As we looked at the World Cup events and wondered what infectious hazards might crop up, measles was at the top of the list,” Schaffner told SFGATE. “It is the most contagious virus.” 

Symptoms of measles virus include a distinctive rash, fever and headache. The virus can be severe, with one in five unvaccinated people needing hospitalization. People who aren’t vaccinated may be able to get protection if they get a vaccine within 72 hours of exposure or get short-term protection via , which contains antibodies for the virus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates for every 1,000 children infected, about one to three will die from conditions related to the disease. 

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Measles generally incubates between eight and 14 days, although it can incubate as long as . Dr. Matt Willis, the former officer for the Marin County Public Health, said due to the relatively long incubation time, it can take up to 42 days before health officials know for certain no one else was infected. In this case, however, Willis said it’s likely no new cases will appear if none are detected in the next 21 days.

“It is a little bit of a white-knuckle ride, when … you know large numbers of people in your community have been exposed,” he said.

There is no cure, but two doses of the measles vaccine is very effective, providing 97% protection against the disease. 

Willis said Santa Clara’s overall high vaccination rate will likely help keep the virus from spreading, but as cases increase nationwide, California has still seen an increase in measles outbreaks this year.

“It’s partly because we’re just seeing more and more of those embers kind of landing in our community,” he said. “Occasionally they … arrive in places where small brush fires of measles can arise.”