# OC Measles Spreads: Locally Acquired Adult Case Follows Travel-Associated Toddler, 6 Cases in 2026

> OC Health Care Agency has confirmed six measles cases in Orange County in 2026, including a locally acquired adult case announced August 19 with multiple public exposure sites across Anaheim, Orange, and Fountain Valley. The original travel-associated toddler case remains the index event; the situation is active and expanding.

- Canonical: https://ocint.app/situation/oc-measles-travel-toddler-2026-08
- Markdown: https://ocint.app/situation/oc-measles-travel-toddler-2026-08.md
- JSON: https://ocint.app/api/situations/oc-measles-travel-toddler-2026-08
- Status: active
- As of: 2026-08-20T18:24:34.644+00:00
- Started: 2026-08-03T22:00:00+00:00
- Cities: Anaheim, Fountain Valley, Orange, Tustin
- Publisher: OCINT (https://ocint.app)

## Who / What / Where / When / Why

**Who:** OC Health Care Agency; an unidentified toddler with international travel history (index case); an unidentified adult whose infection was locally acquired (6th case). Dr. Anissa Davis, Deputy County Health Officer, is HCA's named spokesperson.
**What:** Six confirmed measles cases in OC in 2026, including a locally acquired adult case (Aug. 19) with public exposure sites in Anaheim, Orange, and Fountain Valley, and an index travel-associated case in a toddler (confirmed Aug. 3).
**Where:** Public exposure sites span Anaheim Packing District, Fire and Ice (Anaheim), BJ's Restaurant and The Escape Game (Orange), and UCI Health Fountain Valley cafeteria. Index case arrived at LAX while infectious.
**When:** Index case confirmed August 3, 2026; locally acquired adult case confirmed August 19, 2026; public exposures occurred August 11 and 14, 2026.
**Why:** Index case is travel-associated (toddler living abroad, returned via LAX while infectious). The 6th case represents the first confirmed local transmission from that cluster, indicating ongoing community spread risk.

## Narrative

## Current Status

As of **August 20, 2026**, Orange County Health Care Agency has confirmed **six measles cases** in 2026. The most recent — announced **August 19** — is an adult whose infection was **locally acquired from a known exposure**, marking the first confirmed local transmission within this cluster. Multiple public exposure sites have been identified across Anaheim, Orange, and Fountain Valley between **August 11–14**.

The original index case — a **toddler with international travel history** — remains the anchor of this situation. No additional case confirmations beyond the six have appeared in evidence reviewed through August 20, 2026.

## August 19 Case: Locally Acquired Adult, Public Exposure Sites

HCA's [August 19 press release](https://www.ochealthinfo.com/press/infectious-measles-case-orange-county) identifies the following **public exposure locations** while the adult case was infectious:

- **Anaheim Packing District** — August 11, 5–10 p.m.
- **Fire and Ice restaurant, Anaheim** — August 14, 5–8 p.m.
- **BJ's Restaurant, Orange** — August 14, 10 p.m.–midnight
- **The Escape Game Orange** — August 14, 8–11 p.m.
- **UCI Health Fountain Valley cafeteria** — August 11 and August 14, 10:40 a.m.–noon

HCA advises anyone who visited these locations during those times to verify MMR immunity and monitor for fever or rash **7–21 days after exposure**.

## What HCA Said (Index Case)

The [HCA press release on the toddler](https://www.ochealthinfo.com/press/measles-case-confirmed-orange-county) quotes **Dr. Anissa Davis**, Deputy County Health Officer: measles is highly contagious; anyone planning domestic or international travel — or hosting visitors — should be fully vaccinated at least two weeks beforehand.

- Ages **12 months and older**: two MMR doses before travel, at least 28 days apart
- Infants **6–11 months** traveling internationally: one MMR dose before departure

HCA notes measles spreads through the air and by direct contact; people can be contagious about **four days before** the rash starts through **four days after** it appears. Anyone who suspects measles should **call a provider before arriving** at a medical office.

## National Context

HCA, citing CDC, reported **2,371** confirmed U.S. measles cases in 2026 as of the Aug. 3 release — the highest annual total since measles was declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000 (exceeding **2,289** cases for all of 2025).

## What to Watch

- Additional HCA exposure-site notices or further case confirmations
- Second-source local reporting on the locally acquired cluster
- School, daycare, or mass-gathering exposure notices linked to the Aug. 11–14 exposure window
- Clinician CD alerts with updated testing or isolation guidance

Authoritative pages: [HCA Aug. 19 release](https://www.ochealthinfo.com/press/infectious-measles-case-orange-county) · [HCA measles hub](https://www.ochealthinfo.com/measles) · [CDC measles](https://www.cdc.gov/measles/)

*This page is a draft health Situation. It is not medical advice and is not an emergency-notification service.*

## Timeline

- **2026-07-21T20:45:17+00:00:** OC HCA issues health notice on an infectious measles case in an OC juvenile, urging community immunity checks.
- **2026-07-23T18:42:53+00:00:** OC HCA issues CD Health Alert: travel-associated measles case in Orange County, referencing infectious travel arrival at LAX.
- **2026-08-03T22:12:25+00:00:** OC HCA formally confirms measles in a toddler with international travel history; exposure notifications initiated.
- **2026-08-04T00:00:00+00:00:** KTLA reports on the confirmed OC toddler measles case.
- **2026-08-04T07:09:34+00:00:** OC Register (City News Service) reports child had been living abroad, arrived at LAX the prior month while infectious, now resides in OC.
- **2026-08-04T15:22:49+00:00:** OC HCA issues formal CD Health Alert to clinicians on the travel-associated measles case, with testing and isolation guidance.
- **2026-08-19T20:11:55+00:00:** OC HCA confirms a 6th measles case in 2026 — an adult with locally acquired infection from a known exposure. Public exposure sites identified: Anaheim Packing District (Aug 11), Fire and Ice Anaheim (Aug 14), BJ's Orange (Aug 14), The Escape Game Orange (Aug 14), UCI Health Fountain Valley cafeteria (Aug 11 & 14). HCA advises verifying MMR immunity and monitoring for symptoms 7–21 days post-exposure.

## Primary sources

1. [OC Health: Infectious Measles Case in Orange County](https://www.ochealthinfo.com/press/infectious-measles-case-orange-county) (2026-08-19T20:11:55+00:00)
2. [OC Health: CD HEALTH ALERT: Locally Acquired Measles Case with Known Exposure](https://www.ochealthinfo.com/cd-news-alert/cd-health-alert-locally-acquired-measles-case-known-exposure) (2026-08-19T15:10:11+00:00)
3. [OC Health: CD HEALTH ALERT: Travel Associated Measles Case in Orange County](https://www.ochealthinfo.com/cd-news-alert/cd-health-alert-travel-associated-measles-case-orange-county-2) (2026-08-04T15:22:49+00:00)
4. [OC Register: Orange County health officials report measles in toddler](https://www.ocregister.com/2026/08/04/orange-county-health-officials-report-measles-in-toddler/) (2026-08-04T07:09:34+00:00)
5. [Measles case confirmed in Orange County toddler | KTLA](https://ktla.com/news/orange-county/toddler-measles-international-travel-orange-county/) (2026-08-04T00:00:00+00:00)
6. [OC Health: Measles Case Confirmed in Orange County](https://www.ochealthinfo.com/press/measles-case-confirmed-orange-county) (2026-08-03T22:12:25+00:00)
7. [OC Health: CD HEALTH ALERT: Travel Associated Measles Case in Orange County (July 2026)](https://www.ochealthinfo.com/cd-news-alert/cd-health-alert-travel-associated-measles-case-orange-county-july-2026) (2026-07-23T18:42:53+00:00)
8. [OC Health: Infectious Measles Case in an Orange County Juvenile Community urged to ensure immunity](https://www.ochealthinfo.com/press/infectious-measles-case-orange-county-juvenile-community-urged-ensure-immunity) (2026-07-21T20:45:17+00:00)

## Factoids

- **OCR: LAX arrival prior month** (source_doc) ([source](https://www.ocregister.com/2026/08/04/orange-county-health-officials-report-measles-in-toddler/)): OC Register (City News Service) reported the child had been living abroad, now resides in Orange County, and arrived at Los Angeles International Airport the prior month with measles.
- **HCA confirmation (Aug 3)** (source_doc) ([source](https://www.ochealthinfo.com/press/measles-case-confirmed-orange-county)): OC Health Care Agency confirmed measles in a toddler with international travel history and said it is notifying individuals exposed in healthcare and other settings.
- **U.S. 2026 case count (HCA/CDC)** (source_doc) ([source](https://www.ochealthinfo.com/press/measles-case-confirmed-orange-county)): HCA cited CDC: 2,371 confirmed U.S. measles cases in 2026 as of the Aug. 3 release — highest annual total since elimination was declared in 2000 (vs. 2,289 for full-year 2025).
- **Infectious window** (definition) ([source](https://www.ochealthinfo.com/press/measles-case-confirmed-orange-county)): People with measles can be contagious about four days before the rash begins through about four days after the rash appears. Suspected cases should call a medical provider before arriving at a clinic.
- **Travel MMR guidance (HCA)** (regulatory) ([source](https://www.ochealthinfo.com/press/measles-case-confirmed-orange-county)): HCA: ages 12+ months should have two MMR doses at least 28 days apart before travel if not already vaccinated; infants 6–11 months traveling internationally should get one dose before departure. Vaccinate at least two weeks before travel when possible.
- **Locally acquired adult case (6th of 2026) — public exposure sites** (source_doc) ([source](https://www.ochealthinfo.com/press/infectious-measles-case-orange-county)): On Aug 19, 2026, OC Health Care Agency confirmed measles in an OC adult, locally acquired from a known exposure — the county's 6th confirmed case of 2026 and its first locally acquired transmission of this cluster. Public exposure sites while infectious: Anaheim Packing District (Aug 11, 5–10 p.m.); Fire and Ice restaurant, Anaheim (Aug 14, 5–8 p.m.); BJ's restaurant, Orange (Aug 14, 10 p.m.–midnight); The Escape Game Orange (Aug 14, 8–11 p.m.); UCI Health Fountain Valley cafeteria (Aug 11 and Aug 14, 10:40 a.m.–noon). HCA advises verifying MMR immunity and monitoring for fever/rash 7–21 days post-exposure.
- **Locally acquired 6th case — first local transmission of cluster (Aug 19)** (source_doc) ([source](https://www.ochealthinfo.com/press/infectious-measles-case-orange-county)): On August 19, 2026, HCA confirmed OC's 6th measles case of 2026 in an adult whose infection was locally acquired from a known exposure — the first confirmed local transmission within this cluster. A concurrent CD Health Alert was issued to clinicians with testing and isolation guidance.
- **Public exposure sites — Aug 11 & 14, 2026** (source_doc) ([source](https://www.ochealthinfo.com/press/infectious-measles-case-orange-county)): HCA identified five public exposure sites while the 6th case (locally acquired adult) was infectious: Anaheim Packing District (Aug 11, 5–10 p.m.); Fire and Ice restaurant, Anaheim (Aug 14, 5–8 p.m.); BJ's Restaurant, Orange (Aug 14, 10 p.m.–midnight); The Escape Game Orange (Aug 14, 8–11 p.m.); UCI Health Fountain Valley cafeteria (Aug 11 and Aug 14, 10:40 a.m.–noon). HCA advises verifying MMR immunity and monitoring for fever/rash 7–21 days post-exposure.

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