(Santa Ana, CA) – As reported by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health earlier today, a measles case was confirmed in a juvenile now residing in Orange County. The case arrived at LAX on 7/16/26 after living abroad.
 
The OC Health Care Agency (HCA), Communicable Disease Control Division (CDCD) is notifying individuals who were exposed to the person in a healthcare setting. There were no other places of exposure in Orange County. Additionally, information about exposure at LAX can be found through the LA Department of Public Health press release in their newsroom, LAPHDNews. 

Unvaccinated people and infants too young to be vaccinated are at high risk if exposed. The best protection against the highly contagious virus is two doses of the MMR vaccine. Visit the California Department of Public Health page for vaccine recommendations. Most Californians are vaccinated against measles; therefore, their risk of being infected with measles is very low.
 
“Measles doesn’t only affect people who travel or live internationally—everyone is at risk if they’re not protected,” said Dr. Anissa Davis, Deputy County Health Officer. “Because measles is highly contagious, it can spread quickly within communities, even among those who haven’t traveled. The best way to protect yourself and your loved ones is to get vaccinated before exposure occurs.”

Symptoms typically include fever, cough, runny nose, and red eyes, followed by a rash that begins on the face and spreads to the body. Individuals who have unknown immunization status, or who have not received the measles vaccines, are at high risk of developing measles 7-21 days after being exposed. Anyone who suspects they may have measles should call their medical provider before arriving at the medical office to avoid exposing others.
 
Current Situation
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), as of July 17, 2026, there have been 2,260 confirmed cases of measles in the US. By comparison, 2025 recorded 2,289 cases for the full year. For both years, 93% of all cases were unvaccinated.

For more information on measles visit: 

• OC Health Care Agency Measles
• CDPH Measles

Clinician and Public Guidance
Clinicians in Orange County should report suspected measles immediately to the HCA’s Communicable Disease Control Division for testing and guidance at 1 (714) 834-8180.
 
Further Questions 
Clinicians or members of the public in OC with questions about measles can contact the HCA Health Referral Line at:
  

• Toll-Free: 1 (800) 564-8448 – Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• TDD: 1 (800) 801-7100 – Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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The recent devastation caused by the Los Angeles County fires and the Venezuela earthquakes serve as a reminder that disasters can happen anywhere, at any time, and can have tragic impacts on the lives of those affected. They also highlight the importance of preparing for a disaster to help mitigate some of those effects. Planning ahead can go a long way in protecting yourself and your loved ones when faced with unexpected events.  Key components of emergency preparedness that you can apply to your plans include: prevention, response and recovery. These considerations include examples that are not meant to be exhaustive, and households should adapt them to their own needs and capabilities.

Prevention 

Take steps to keep your household safe to lessen the impact when a disaster or emergency arises. Examples include: 

• Clearing dried brush around your property. 
• Keeping fire alarms, fire extinguishers, and carbon monoxide detectors in working order and in the appropriate locations. 
• Keeping dangerous chemicals and medications out of reach of children.
• Anchoring large objects to walls and securing heavy objects. 
• Having a method to receive emergency alerts and warnings.

Response

Outcomes in a disaster can be improved with some thoughtful steps to prepare you to react when an event happens.

 

Develop an emergency plan for your household:  

Coordinate with household members ahead of time so everyone knows what to do when an emergency happens. Make sure to review and update the plan at least annually.

• Create a document with important household information, household member information (contacts, medical concerns, locations if not at home, etc.), emergency contacts, and other important contacts.
• Have an evacuation plan with multiple safe exit routes (including a way to get down from a multi-story structure).
• Identify a meeting place near your home, as well as one farther away.
• Identify potential shelter locations or friends/family you can stay with. 
• Have a communication plan for circumstances in which you are separated, especially if phone or internet is disrupted.
• Have a plan for power outages, such as alternative power sources.
• Consider any special needs for household members that relate to medical, mobility, or development issues.

Disaster Supply Kit: 

Prepare a cache of supplies to be able to sustain your household (including pets) for at least 3 to 4 days if you have to stay in place. Some items include:

• Water (1 gallon per person per day)
• Non-perishable, calorie-dense food 
• Toiletries and hygienic items (wipes, hand sanitizer, diapers for infants and feminine items) 
• Clothing, blankets/sleeping bags
• Essential electronics (radios, communication devices, flashlights) with batteries and a potential back-up power source
• Basic tools and shelter supplies
• A well-supplied first aid kit

If you need to evacuate your household, have a go-bag ready to take with you. This would be a leaner, lighter version of the home disaster supply kit with additional items needed for travel such as cash, prescription medications, and important documents.

Recovery

After a disaster happens, you may need resources to help you recover and rebuild after the event.

• Make sure to have important documents (insurance papers, birth/marriage certificates, passports, financial papers, ownership papers, etc.) in a safe, accessible location, and/or have them backed up electronically on the cloud. These will help make the recovery process smoother.
• Keep an updated inventory of your property to help evaluate any losses.
• If possible, have an emergency savings reserve to help you with immediate needs in the aftermath of an emergency.
• Make sure your homeowners’ insurance is up to date and consider earthquake insurance.
• If the event is declared a federal disaster, there is a process for getting assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Disaster Assistance website. 

Get Involved

Participating in training and with local organizations can help strengthen your community and your preparedness.

• Learn about classes in your area that teach first aid and CPR (Red Cross - Take A Class) 
• Take a Stop the Bleed class (Stop The Bleed Training)
• The American Red Cross trains people in preparedness and safety (Red Cross - Disaster Training) 
• Volunteer with community-based organizations that respond to disasters (Ready OC - Volunteer) 
  • Some cities have Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) that respond to incidents locally (Ready OC - CERT & Partners)

Disasters and emergencies can disrupt lives in profound ways. With proper planning, organization and forethought, many negative consequences can be mitigated or avoided. Please check out some of the following links for more information.

Resources

Ready OC 

The Ready Campaign - Resources 

Centers for Disease Control - Natural Disasters & Severe Weather

Red Cross - How to Prepare for Emergencies

About Dr. Gagandeep S. Grewal

Gagandeep S. Grewal, MD, graduated from UCLA (and remains an avid fan), earned his MD from UC Davis School of Medicine, and completed his emergency medicine residency at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. He is board-certified in Emergency Medicine and has been practicing for over 25 years. He serves as the Associate Medical Director for the Orange County Emergency Medical Services (OCEMS) division of the OC Health Care Agency, where he helps plan, implement, and evaluate the county’s EMS system. In his role, Dr. Grewal also supports the OCEMS Health Disaster Preparedness section, collaborating with healthcare partners and other stakeholders to ensure that, in the event of a disaster, the medical needs of the people of Orange County are met. 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a Health Advisory to raise awareness of cyclosporiasis due to a large increase in domestically acquired disease in multiple states. CDC’s national surveillance page provides state level data on cases acquired in the U.S. and can be found here.

HCA Communicable Disease Control has not seen any increase in cyclosporiasis to date in Orange County. Statewide California not seen an increase in cyclosporiasis per a CDPH Press Release.

Cyclosporiasis cases historically increase during the summer months. In OC, most cases of cyclosporiasis identified are associated with international travel. More info...

(Santa Ana, CA) –   The OC Health Care Agency’s Environmental Health Division has closed one quarter (0.25) miles upcoast to one quarter (0.25) miles downcoast of Anita Street at Thalia Beach in the City of Laguna Beach. The spill of approximately 2000 gallons was caused by a malfunction of a force main sewer line pump.
 
The affected ocean water area will remain closed to ocean water contact sports for a minimum of three days and until the results of follow-up water quality monitoring meet acceptable standards.
 
For information regarding Orange County ocean, bay, or harbor postings and closures, please call (714) 433-6400 or visit our Web site at www.OCBeachinfo.com. To report a sewage spill, please call (714) 433-6419.

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ABOUT THE OC HEALTH CARE AGENCY
The OC Health Care Agency (HCA) is a regional interdisciplinary health jurisdiction and an accredited health department, charged with protecting and promoting individual, family and community health through partnership and coordination of public and private sector resources. Visit www.ochealthinfo.com to learn more about services and resource

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(Santa Ana, CA) – The planned removal of neutralized methyl methacrylate (MMA) from two storage tanks at GKN Aerospace is scheduled the week of June 29 through July 2.   

The operation will focus on two of the three tanks (tanks #2 and #4) and is being carried out in carefully managed phases, over several days, with multiple layers of safety protocols and oversight measures in place. Specialized containers will be used, incorporating features that support temperature control and secure transport. 

Temporary, intermittent odors may occur during this activity in the area near the GKN Aerospace facility. MMA has a fruity smell with a very low odor threshold, meaning people may notice a scent even when concentrations are well below levels associated with health concerns.   

Environmental protection is in place throughout the work, including continuous air monitoring using both mobile and fixed equipment at the facility fenceline and the community. Additionally, targeted air and odor monitoring based on wind conditions will be conducted. Operations will be adjusted as needed in response to conditions and will occur during daylight hours only.  

An interactive data dashboard is available on the www.occupainfo.com web page enabling residents to view air monitoring data. Updates surrounding the cleanup activities are also being posted to www.occupainfo.com. 

The work continues to be carried out under a unified command structure with support from experienced hazardous materials teams and certified transport contractors, in coordination with appropriate regulatory authorities. The drainage operation represents one phase of the cleanup and disposal process. Air monitoring will continue throughout cleanup operations.

Information regarding the GKN Aerospace incident can be found here: https://www.ocgov.com/gkn-aerospace-hazmat-incident.    

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There has been an increase in travel-related introductions of clade I mpox into California and the U.S. in 2026, and clade II mpox cases have increased in California. Increases in clade I community transmission in Western Europe suggest that additional travel-related clade I mpox cases should be expected in California. Clinicians should have a heightened index of suspicion for mpox and particularly for clade I mpox in individuals who report recent international travel or sexual or intimate contact with someone who recently traveled internationally, especially to an area where clade I is circulating. Providers and assistants including cleaning staff should wear full PPE (gloves, gown, goggles, and fit tested N-95 respirator). Mpox testing should be considered for patients with compatible signs and symptoms (PDF), regardless of vaccination status or previous infection. Providers should report suspect or confirmed clade I mpox cases immediately to their local health department and/or CDPH. Mpox vaccination with two doses is recommended for individuals who may be at risk for mpox including immune compromised individuals and is expected to protect against both clade I and clade II mpox or any subclades.​

Full Advisory: Increase in Introductions of Clade I Mpox and Increases in Clade II Mpox Within California