Placer County Confirms Eight Measles Cases in Ongoing Outbreak
Health officials link the cluster to travel from a South Carolina measles outbreak.
Placer County has identified a measles outbreak of 8 confirmed cases.
PLACER COUNTY — Placer County Public Health has confirmed eight measles cases in the county as of March 25. Officials identified four new cases today. All four new cases occurred in the same household that already included one confirmed case.
No public exposures were reported for the latest cases. The individuals had been asked to quarantine prior to confirmation, according to the county health department.
The outbreak began with three confirmed cases announced on March 2, 2026. All three involved teenagers from a single family linked through household exposure. A fourth case in the family was suspected at the time and later confirmed.
An extended family member who is not a Placer County resident is believed to be the index case. That person had traveled to South Carolina, where a large measles outbreak continues. The three initial Placer teenagers had direct contact with a Sacramento County toddler linked to the same travel, according to the California Department of Public Health.
Placer County confirmed a fourth case on March 5, 2026. The county’s case count remained at four through March 11. Two public exposures were identified in relation to that fourth case.
Public Health notified up to 165 attendees of a Placer-based enrichment program who may have been exposed. A second exposure occurred at a facility in another jurisdiction, and officials there handled notification.
The California Department of Public Health reported six cases across Placer and Sacramento counties by March 5. One Sacramento child attended an educational enrichment program on February 24, where as many as 130 children may have been exposed while the child was infectious. Program leaders voluntarily closed the facility temporarily.
Placer County Health Officer Dr. Rob Oldham stated on March 2 that the risk to the general public remained low. He said the early outbreak appeared contained within an extended family.
Measles spreads through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes. The virus can linger in shared spaces for up to two hours after the person has left. Up to 90 percent of people without immunity who are exposed to measles will become ill.
Placer County Public Health recommends extra caution for residents who are not fully immunized. California Digital Vaccine Record allows residents to check their immunization status. Appointments for the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine are available through MyTurn.ca.gov or local health care providers.