It's been about two weeks since a person infected with the measles potentially exposed others at a southwest Bakersfield restaurant. There have been no reports locally of people contracting the disease so far, but that can still change.
Michelle Corson with Kern County Public Health says we are currently in the window of time of when symptoms of the measles would present themselves.
Corson says the last documented case of measles in Kern County was back in 2004. Because the disease is so infectious, Public Health took steps to alert the public.
The potential exposure happened on April 30 at the Taco Bell on California Avenue around lunch time. Anyone visiting the restaurant at that time may have been exposed.
If you were at the restaurant during that time, you may want to watch out for potential symptoms.
If you or someone you know has contracted the measles, symptoms would start displaying themselves between now and May 21.
Symptoms of measles can include:
- High fever of 101 degrees and above
- Cough
- Runny nose
- Rash that starts at the hairline and travels downward
If you do show symptoms, do not go to your doctor's office or an emergency room without notifying the facility that you are coming. This will help prevent spreading the disease.
You cannot become infected by touching something, it is only airborne. That limits the exposure chances and lowers the risk of infection.
