Measles case reported in Santa Barbara County

August 14, 2026

By KAREN VELIE

As measles cases spread throughout the United States, Santa Barbara County recently reported its first measles case since 2019. The woman contracted measles while traveling abroad.

In 2025, San Luis Obispo County confirmed its first case of measles since 2018. In that case, the infected party had also traveled abroad.

The United States had confirmed 2,465 cases of measles in 2026, as of early August. Last year there were 2,289 measles cases reported over 12 months.

Only 7% of people contracting measles have had at least one vaccine dose, while the vast majority are unvaccinated, according to the CDC. Health officials contend lower vaccination rates have led to the higher number of cases.

“Measles spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes and it can linger in the air for up to an hour after they leave, according to SLO County Department of Public Health. “Measles symptoms usually appear seven to 21 days after exposure, and typically begins with high fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes. Two or three days after symptoms begin, tiny white spots may appear inside the mouth. Then a rash of tiny red spots appears on the skin, first on the face and then on the rest of the body.”