There have been five confirmed cases of the measles since March in Santa Clara County, according to health officials.

These numbers are as of Apr. 4.

Health officials are urging people to get vaccinated for the disease. They say it’s a routine childhood vaccination for school entry.

Here are some resources provided by officials:

What is measles?

Measles is a highly contagious respiratory disease that is spread through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Measles symptoms start with a fever, runny nose, cough, and red eyes, and are followed by a rash that spreads all over the body. Learn more about measles.

What can you do?

Vaccination with two doses of MMR vaccine is a safe and effective way to prevent measles.
 
Know if you and your children are protected. Two doses of MMR vaccine provide long-lasting protection against measles. Those who have previously been infected with measles are also protected from being infected with measles again.
 
Get vaccinated if you are not already vaccinated or are unsure of your vaccination status. Talk with your healthcare provider about getting vaccinated or having a blood test to check for immunity to measles.
 
Vaccinate your children. The MMR vaccine is included in the routine childhood immunization schedule. Children should receive the first dose at 12-15 months and the second dose at 4-6 years. Older children can be vaccinated, too, if they haven’t already.
 
Call your healthcare provider if you think you or your child might have measles. Call before going to the medical office so the office can take steps to prevent others from being exposed to measles.
 
Information for parents, schools, and child care centers
Child care facilities and schools with low vaccination rates are at increased risk for outbreaks of vaccine preventable diseases like measles. The measles vaccination rate for children in our county is high – over 97% on average in public schools, and over 94% on average in private schools, though some individual schools may have much lower rates, and some have rates of 100%.
Click below to check for vaccination rate at local schools:
Where to get vaccinated
  • If you or child have a regular healthcare provider, you can talk to him or her about getting vaccinated
  • The Adult Immunization and Travel Clinic offers adults (>18 years of age) vaccinations, including the Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine
  • Community clinics in Santa Clara County that offer vaccination services for children and youth (English/Spanish/Vietnamese )