Measles Exposure Alert: 13-Month-Old at Rady Grossmont, Rady Children’s ER

A 13-month-old toddler who had recently traveled overseas was confirmed Wednesday as the fourth case of measles this year in San Diego County.

No specific details about the patient were released, but county health officials said the infant — who was not immunized — may have exposed others:

• from midnight to 5:30 p.m. Aug. 20 at Rady Grossmont Pediatric Unit, 5555 Grossmont Center Drive in La Mesa
• between 2:15 and 9 p.m. Sunday at Rady Children’s Emergency Department and Inpatient Unit 4 East, 3020 Children’s Way, San Diego

Officials from both facilities were working with the county to contact patients and staff who may have been exposed to the infected child.

“Measles is a very contagious disease that can be spread easily by coughing, sneezing or being in the same room with an infected person,” Dr. Seema Shah, the county interim deputy public health officer, said in a statement.

Prior to this year, the most recent confirmed measles case in the county was detected in 2019, according to the county. None of the four cases confirmed this year are believed to be linked, “but all are associated with international travel,” according to the county.

According to county health officials, people exposed to measles can develop symptoms between seven and 21 days, including fever, cough, runny nose and red eyes, with a red rash usually appearing one to four days later.

The rash usually starts on the face and head and moves down to the hands and feet.

Anyone who develops symptoms was advised to call their medical provider first, rather than showing up unannounced so “infection control measures may be activated to prevent exposure to others.”

City News Service contributed to this article.