Two Unvaccinated Sacramento Children Diagnosed with Measles

Health officials say one case linked to South Carolina outbreak

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

Public health officials in Sacramento County, California have confirmed two cases of measles in unvaccinated children, with one case linked to a larger outbreak in South Carolina. The children are being treated, and contact tracing is underway to identify any potential exposures.

Why it matters

Measles is a highly contagious disease that can spread quickly, especially in communities with low vaccination rates. These cases highlight the importance of vaccination in preventing the spread of preventable diseases.

The details

The two confirmed measles cases in Sacramento County involve unvaccinated children. One child contracted the virus while traveling to South Carolina, which is currently experiencing a large measles outbreak. The other child is being treated at home. Public health officials are conducting contact tracing to identify any hospital staff or members of the public who may have been exposed to the second child while they were being treated at a local hospital.

  • On March 4, 2026, Sacramento County Public Health announced the two confirmed measles cases.

The players

Dr. Olivia Kasirye

Sacramento County Public Health Officer.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Measles is highly contagious and can easily be brought back into our community through travel.”

— Dr. Olivia Kasirye, Sacramento County Public Health Officer (cbsnews.com)

What’s next

Contact tracing is ongoing to identify any potential exposures, and public health officials are urging residents to ensure they are up-to-date on their measles vaccinations.

The takeaway

These measles cases highlight the importance of vaccination in preventing the spread of highly contagious diseases, especially in communities with low vaccination rates. Public health officials are working to contain the outbreak and prevent further transmission.