State's first 2026 measles case is confirmed

Barely more than a week into the new year, the California Department of Public Health confirmed its first measles case of 2026.

- KATERINA PORTELA

ALLEN J. SCHABEN Los Angeles Times MEASLES cases are arising across the U.S. California's first case of the year was in San Mateo County.

The diagnosis came from San Mateo County, where an unvaccinated adult likely contracted the virus from recent international travel, according to Preston Merchant, a San Mateo County Health spokesperson.

Measles is one of the most infectious viruses in the world, and can remain in the air for two hours after an infected person leaves, according to the state agency.

Although the U.S. announced it had eliminated measles in 2000, meaning there had been no reported infections of the disease in 12 months, measles have since returned.

Last year, the U.S. reported about 2,000 cases, the highest reported count since 1992, according to CDC data.

"Right now, our best strategy to avoid spread is contact tracing, so reaching out to everybody that came in contact with this person,"

Merchant said. "So far, they have no reported symptoms.