Community Corner

BART Warns Riders to Look Out for Signs of Measles Infection

Officials with Bay Area Rapid Transit issued an alert Thursday evening upon learning that a rider recently traveled on a local train while infected with the contagious disease.

BART officials issued a health advisory Thursday, alerting riders that a traveler recently rode a train while infected with measles. 

"BART and Contra Costa Health Services (CCHS) are urging riders to seek medical attention if they exhibit any symptoms of measles after CCHS learned that a person infected with the contagious disease traveled on BART in the East Bay last week," the advisory states.

According to the agency, the infected traveler rode between El Cerrito del Norte and Downtown Berkeley stations on Tuesday, Feb. 4 through Friday, Feb. 7.  They were on the trains each day during the morning, between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m., and again during the evening commute hours.

"The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says measles has been virtually wiped out in the United States thanks to vaccinations but the disease still poses a risk to those who have not been vaccinated," the BART alert states.

The airborne virus can live up to two hours.

"BART uses industrial-strength disinfectant to clean its trains at the end of the line during the day and each night," the agency said.

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Officials say the symptoms can appear in 7-14 days after being exposed, and can include:

  • Measles Rash
  • Blotchy rash
  • Fever
  • Cough
  • Runny nose
  • Red, watery eyes (conjunctivitis)
  • Feeling run down, achy (malaise)
  • Tiny white spots with bluish-white centers found inside the mouth (Koplik’s spots)

For more information about measles, visit http://cchealth.org/

Find out what's happening in Castro Valleywith free, real-time updates from Patch.



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