CDPH Urges Vaccination as New Measles Cases Reported in Sacramento Region
March 5, 2026
CDPH working with counties to assess exposures related to five recent cases in the Sacramento region
What You Need to Know: Six recent cases of measles have been reported in Placer and Sacramento counties. This represents the third outbreak of measles in California in 2026.
Public health officials are investigating additional suspect cases across multiple jurisdictions and working to notify people who may have been exposed. With this news and measles spreading in other parts of the United States and the world, CDPH is strongly urging Californians to ensure they are fully vaccinated against measles.
SACRAMENTO – The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is urging Californians to get vaccinated against measles after local health departments in Placer and Sacramento counties have notified the state of multiple recent cases. To avoid spreading measles to your community, CDPH strongly recommends that unvaccinated individuals exposed to measles stay at home, and that those who have symptoms of measles call their health care provider for guidance on testing and care.
In late February, Sacramento County reported a measles case in an unvaccinated toddler who had recently traveled to an area in South Carolina with an ongoing measles outbreak. Placer County then identified measles cases in three siblings from a different household who had direct contact with the toddler. These four cases represent the third outbreak of measles in California in 2026.
On March 4, a fifth case was reported by Sacramento County to CDPH in a child from the same community who attended an educational enrichment program where as many as 130 children may have been exposed to the child while they were infectious.
On March 5, Placer County reported a sixth case in another unvaccinated child from a different household within the same community.
“Measles, one of the most contagious infections, can lead to severe life-long consequences including permanent brain damage and can also be fatal, especially for children,” said
Dr. Erica Pan, CDPH Director and State Public Health Officer. “The measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine is safe and provides long-lasting protection against measles. Vaccination protects both our own families and those who are too young to be fully vaccinated.”
Two doses of the MMR vaccine are 97 percent effective at stopping illness. In the current outbreak in South Carolina, measles cases spread quickly in unvaccinated communities, often within individual families, groups of homeschooled children and religious communities with low rates of vaccination.
CDPH is working with county health officials in Placer and Sacramento counties, as well as other counties across the region, to notify people who may have been exposed. The leaders of the educational enrichment program have agreed to voluntarily close the facility temporarily.
What to do if you were exposed to or have symptoms of measles
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https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/OPA/Pages/NR26-009.aspx
