Riverside County health officials launch online resource page as measles cases surge statewide, nationally

In response to concerns with an increasing number of measles cases, Riverside University Health System-Public Health has created a Web-based resource page that focuses on the potentially serious illness.

The launching of the Webpage (http://www.rivcoph.org/Measles.aspx) comes as health officials address the spike in measles cases nationally and in California. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently reported the highest number of confirmed cases since 2000, when the illness was considered eradicated from the U.S.

In California, state health officials have said 40 cases of measles reported in the state. This is the highest number of cases since 2014-2015, when at least 131 California residents were infected.

No cases have been confirmed in Riverside County so far this year, but health officials said it is important for the residents and the medical community to be prepared in case the highly contagious illness spreads here.

“Measles can be a serious illness and we all must be ready to stop its spread,” said Dr. Cameron Kaiser, county public health officer. “Parents and medical professionals may have concerns or questions they want answered. The webpage will provide important information.”

The county has not had a confirmed measles case since 2015.

Read Dr. Kaiser’s blog about measles www.rivcoph.org/blog.aspx