Berkeley health officials are alerting the public that a UC Berkeley student has a confirmed case of measles. The student rode public transportation in the Berkeley area and was on campus before being diagnosed and placed in isolation on Saturday.
The student has not been identified. Officials say the student was likely contagious as early as last Monday, Aug. 24. Measles is contagious before a person shows any symptoms, and both city and state health officials are working with the university to identify people who have been living or working in close contact with the student.
Measles is one of the most contagious pathogens known and can linger up to two hours after the infected person has left. The measles vaccine is considered more than 99 percent effective.
In a statement, Berkeley health officer Dr. Janet Berreman encouraged people in Berkeley to "make sure they and their children have received the required two doses. Obtaining records of your vaccination could prove critical in the event of a local outbreak."
Measles is marked by a red rash that starts on the head and spreads to the rest of the body. Other symptoms include fever, runny nose and red eyes. According to the Centers for Disease Control, one out of four people who develop measles will require hospitalization.