East Bay Measles Alert: Health Officials Warn Shoppers After Case at Sunvalley Mall
County health officials race to contain measles after an unvaccinated adult shopped at Sunvalley Mall and rode BART while contagious.
Patient Took Public Transit, Visited Food Court During Contagious Period
CONCORD — A single case of measles has ignited a sweeping public-health scramble across the East Bay after laboratory tests late Tuesday confirmed the highly contagious virus in a Contra Costa County resident.
Timeline of Exposure
The unidentified patient, described only as an unvaccinated adult, rode BART from the Pittsburg/Bay Point station to Sunvalley Shopping Center on the afternoon of May 3, spending roughly two hours inside the mall before returning home by rideshare.
County health officer Dr. Ori Tzvieli said the individual became infectious on April 30, meaning anyone present at the following locations may have been exposed:
- Sunvalley Mall food court, 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m., May 3
- BART Pittsburg/Bay Point platform, 10:45 a.m. and 2:10 p.m., May 3
- Monument Boulevard pharmacy, 6 p.m.–7 p.m., May 4
Why One Case Matters
Measles spreads by airborne droplets that linger in closed spaces for up to two hours. Nine out of ten unvaccinated people who breathe the same air will catch it.
“We are nine months out from the last confirmed Bay Area case,” Dr. Tzvieli said. “One importation can snowball if community coverage slips.”
Vaccination Status
State data show 92.4 percent of Contra Costa kindergarteners are fully immunized, but pockets of hesitancy remain. The county needs 95 percent coverage to maintain herd immunity against measles.
What to Do Now
Anyone who visited the listed locations should:
- Check their MMR records; two doses are 97 percent effective.
- Watch for fever, cough, conjunctivitis, and rash for 21 days.
- Call a provider before arriving at a clinic; special isolation rooms are required.
Free shots are available at county clinics through May 15; no insurance or appointment needed.
Looking Ahead
Officials expect to confirm additional cases within the 21-day incubation window. “We’re not crying wolf,” said Dr. Tzvieli. “This virus finds every crack in our armor.”