CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, SACRAMENTO
Risk Management Services
February 3, 2015
Measles (Rubeola)
The recent Ebola outbreak in West Africa received considerable media attention worldwide,
and every case that reaches the United States is well publicized. Fortunately, that pandemic is
being contained by the application of good public health procedures such as isolating those
who are ill. But other, more common diseases are spread more easily and pose a greater threat
to community health. Because of a well-publicized outbreak that centered on Disneyland in
Southern California, the United States is currently experiencing another measles (rubeola)
outbreak.
In 2000 measles was thought to have been eradicated in the United States. In 2004 only 37
cases were registered by health officials in the entire country. The years 2001 through 2010
saw an average of only 69.1 cases per year nationwide. But the years 2011 – 2014 saw an
increase in the average to 276.5 per year, with 2014 registering 644 cases. Clearly measles is
making a comeback in the United States, attributable to immigration, travel, and failure to
vaccinate.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, in 2014: In China over 107,000 cases were
reported. The Philippines saw over 57,500 cases, Viet Nam over 17,000, and the total in
Ethiopia exceeded 16,000 cases. World wide the total cases exceeded 250,000. Total deaths
attributable to measles: approximately 145,000.
The strain of measles spread recently in Southern California came from the 2013 outbreak in
the Philippines, according to the CDC.
"The measles virus is probably the most contagious infectious disease known to mankind,"
according to Stephen Cochi, a senior adviser with the CDC. Someone infected with measles
may be contagious for 24 to 48 hours before feeling sick. So a person who is ill but does not feel
symptomatic could spread the disease and not even know it.
According to the CDC:
 The majority of the people who got measles were unvaccinated.
 Measles is still common in many parts of the world including some countries in Europe,
Asia, the Pacific, and Africa.
 Travelers with measles continue to bring the disease into the U.S.
 Measles can spread when it reaches a community in the U.S. where groups of people are
unvaccinated.
6000 J Street, Sacramento, California 95819-6145

(916) 278-6456

(916) 278-4359 FAX
THE CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY  Bakersfield  Chico  Dominguez Hills  Fresno  Fullerton  Hayward  Humboldt  Long Beach  Los Angeles  Maritime Academy
Monterey Bay  Northridge  Pomona  Sacramento  San Bernardino  San Diego  San Francisco  San Jose  San Luis Obispo  San Marcos  Sonoma  Stanislaus
CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, SACRAMENTO
Risk Management Services
What to do: Become familiar with the symptoms of measles: fever, malaise, irritability,
sneezing, runny nose, and congestion, cough, Koplik’s spots (red spots with a white center
which are found on the inside of a child’s mouth, usually on the insides of the cheeks, swollen
glands, anorexia, vomiting and diarrhea. If any of these symptoms occur, the person should be
isolated from others, then schedule a visit with a physician for an expert diagnosis.
Rubeola is not the same as rubella, also known as German measles, which is much milder and
lasts a shorter time.
For more information please see the CDC’s measles webpage at
http://www.cdc.gov/measles/cases-outbreaks.html
Kirtland Stout
Director, Risk Management and Business Continuity Planning
6000 J Street, Sacramento, California 95819-6145

(916) 278-6456

(916) 278-4359 FAX
THE CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY  Bakersfield  Chico  Dominguez Hills  Fresno  Fullerton  Hayward  Humboldt  Long Beach  Los Angeles  Maritime Academy
Monterey Bay  Northridge  Pomona  Sacramento  San Bernardino  San Diego  San Francisco  San Jose  San Luis Obispo  San Marcos  Sonoma  Stanislaus