A South Bay resident who contracted measles dined at a Panda Express restaurant in Burlingame and went to work and sought medical care while contagious, officials said Friday, sparking a public health response in two Bay Area counties.
The adult, who had recently returned from international travel, was diagnosed with measles late Wednesday, according to the Santa Clara County Public Health Department. The individual was vaccinated, developed symptoms a few days after returning and is currently isolating at home.
Health officials said that although the person was contagious, he had visited “private work and medical settings” and dined at a Burlingame restaurant in San Mateo County.
The Santa Clara and San Mateo County health departments are working with state officials and other local agencies to identify and notify people who may have been exposed.
“The individual visited Panda Express at 1453 Burlingame Avenue in Burlingame on February 23 and 24, 2026,” health officials said. “Individuals who visited the restaurant between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on those days may be at risk for measles, especially if unvaccinated, pregnant, or immunocompromised.”
Officials said anyone who visited the restaurant during the exposure window should stay home and contact a health care provider before seeking medical attention. Calling ahead allows healthcare facilities to take precautions to prevent further spread.
Measles is one of the most contagious viruses in the world. The virus spreads through the air when an infected person talks, coughs or sneezes, and can stay in the air for up to two hours, according to the California Department of Public Health.
Symptoms usually appear 7 to 21 days after exposure and may include fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes and rash. In some cases, measles can cause serious complications, especially in young children, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems.
County officials said this is the first confirmed case of measles among Santa Clara County residents since May 2025 and the 22nd case of measles reported in California this year. Other Bay Area cases in 2026 were reported in San Mateo and Napa counties, which are unrelated.
Prior to 2025, the last confirmed case involving a Santa Clara County resident was in 2019.
“Fortunately, our region has strong community immunity because of our very high vaccination rates or childhood exposure to vaccines decades ago,” Dr. Sarah Ruderman, Santa Clara County health officer and public health director, said in a statement.
State guidelines recommend two doses of measles, mumps and rubella vaccine for complete protection. Most health insurance plans in California require coverage of recommended vaccines, county officials said.
Across the country, measles cases are rising at a rate that alarms epidemiologists.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of confirmed infections in the United States has exceeded 1,000 in 2026, reaching 1,136 as of February 26. In just two months, the total number of confirmed cases in the United States has reached nearly half of last year’s 2,256 cases. Twenty-eight states have reported infections this year.
Public health experts say the acceleration far exceeds trends seen in recent outbreaks.
Scientists say the surge reflects a decline in vaccination rates rather than any changes in the virus itself. In 2000, the United States declared measles elimination, meaning there is no longer ongoing transmission in the country. But researchers warn that the situation is in jeopardy as community immunity drops below the 95% threshold needed to prevent transmission.
Most of this year’s cases have been linked to outbreaks in more than a dozen states, including a cluster in South Carolina. The CDC notes that official statistics are likely an undercount.
Federal health officials say that while many cases have mild symptoms, one in five unvaccinated people who contract the virus requires hospitalization.
In 2025, two children and one adult, both unvaccinated, died from measles. Public health leaders warn that without increasing vaccination coverage, the United States risks losing measles elimination status and facing ongoing outbreaks again.
This article was originally published on Bay Area measles patient visited Panda Express twice while infected, health officials say.