Measles exposure at SFO prompts health alert for travelers, officials say

Travelers who moved through San Francisco International Airport’s International Terminal on June 8 may have crossed paths with a measles case, turning one busy morning of arrivals and customs into a public-health concern for anyone who was there. The exposure window ran from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. and included passport control, customs and the international baggage claim area, according to Santa Clara County health officials.

The county said the infected adult was believed to have been exposed during international travel and then spent time in public places while contagious. Officials also flagged two San Jose businesses visited later that same day, Trader Joe’s at 635 Coleman Ave. from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. and International Halal Market at 960 E. Santa Clara St. during the same evening window. Anyone who was in those places at those times may be at risk for measles during the next seven to 21 days.

That matters far beyond Santa Clara County because SFO is a daily hub for San Francisco residents, airline workers, airport crews and families moving through the Bay Area. Measles spreads extremely quickly, and state health officials say the virus can linger in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves a space. The California Department of Public Health says two doses of the MMR vaccine provide 97% protection against measles, and county guidance says that is the best defense.

Health officials urged people to check vaccination records through MyVaccineRecord.cdph.ca.gov or with a health care provider, especially parents, child-care providers and anyone planning to travel or attend large gatherings. People who are pregnant, immunocompromised, infants or otherwise unimmunized were told to call a provider immediately if they may have been exposed. Anyone who develops symptoms was urged to phone ahead before going to a clinic or emergency department so staff can protect other patients and visitors.

Santa Clara County said it is working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the state health department to identify close contacts. The warning comes as the Bay Area hosts major international events, and as public-health officials track a broader outbreak picture: California had 49 confirmed measles cases as of June 8, with 46 in people who were unvaccinated or had unknown vaccination status, and the CDC reported 2,073 confirmed U.S. cases in 2026, most of them tied to outbreaks. Santa Clara County last confirmed a measles case in May 2025, when a resident with measles visited a Panda Express in Burlingame while infectious.