{"id":692,"date":"2026-06-16T05:01:57","date_gmt":"2026-06-16T05:01:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sanfranciscomovingguide.com\/?p=692"},"modified":"2026-06-16T05:01:57","modified_gmt":"2026-06-16T05:01:57","slug":"measles-case-detected-at-sfo-days-before-world-cup-start","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sanfranciscomovingguide.com\/?p=692","title":{"rendered":"Measles case detected at SFO days before World Cup start"},"content":{"rendered":"
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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\u00a0news release from the Santa Clara County Public Health Department.<\/p>

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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\u2019s store at 635 Coleman Ave. and International Halal Market at 960 E. Santa Clara St.\u00a0<\/p><\/div>

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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\u2019t\u00a0protected 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,\u00a0according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.<\/p><\/div>

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\u2019s Stadium in Santa Clara County.<\/p><\/div>

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.<\/p><\/div>

\u201cWe 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,\u201d she said.<\/p><\/div>

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Dr. William\u00a0Schaffner, 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.<\/p><\/div>

\u201cAs we looked at the World Cup events and wondered what infectious hazards might crop up, measles was at the top of the list,\u201d Schaffner told SFGATE. \u201cIt is the most contagious virus.\u201d\u00a0<\/p><\/div>

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\u2019t 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.\u00a0<\/p>

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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\u2019s likely no new cases will appear if none are detected in the next 21 days.<\/p><\/div>

\u201cIt is a little bit of a white-knuckle ride, when \u2026 you know large numbers of people in your community have been exposed,\u201d he said.<\/p><\/div>

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