Measles outbreak: Confirmed case at Cal State Channel Islands

Cal State Channel Islands officials confirmed Friday that a student living off campus has been diagnosed with measles.

University officials urged students who think they may have been exposed to get vaccinated. Free measles vaccines will be available before 8 p.m. Friday at 2240 East Gonzales Road in Oxnard, courtesy of the Ventura County Public Health Department.

The sick student visited the campus on Jan. 20, the first day back at school after winter break, said CSU Channel Islands spokeswoman Kim Gregory. The student, who does not live on campus, visited three locations, she added: the Bell Tower building, Del Norte Hall and the John Spoor Broome Library.

The buildings, which are areas of high student traffic, are being disinfected, Gregory said.

“We have extra staff on hand to answer questions,” she added. “Our No. 1 priority is to alert the campus.”

The school has been sending out texts and emails to 9,500 contacts in their campus alert system, Gregory said, and a yellow banner warning students has been placed across the university’s Facebook page and main website.

“If you believe you have been exposed, and you have never had the disease or have not received two doses of the measles vaccine, you need to get the vaccine by today, Jan. 23, 2015, in order to be protected,” an excerpt from the website banner reads.

Classes will resume as usual Monday, Gregory said. She added that the university would “wait to see what Ventura County Public Health recommends.”

The free measles vaccine clinic will run until 8 p.m. Friday at 2240 E. Gonzales Road, Oxnard.

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