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(Santa Ana, CA) — The OC Health Care Agency (HCA) has confirmed a case of measles in a toddler who recently travelled domestically. The HCA is notifying individuals who were exposed to the child at a health care setting. No additional community exposure is suspected as the child’s family was isolating during the contagious period.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there have been 1,514 confirmed cases of measles in the United States this year, with 23 new cases reported in the past two weeks. This represents the highest annual case count in more than 30 years. 

“Measles is a highly contagious virus that can cause severe illness such as pneumonia, brain swelling and even death, especially in young children who are not protected,” said Dr. Regina Chinsio-Kwong, County Health Officer. “In recent years, approximately 1 in 8 people diagnosed with measles in the US have required hospitalization. Among children under 5, that number rises to 1 in 5.”

Common symptoms include fever, cough, red watery eyes, and a rash that typically begins on the head   before spreading down to the rest of the body. Measles is the most contagious disease known, and spreads very easily through the air and by direct contact with an infected person. People are contagious from approximately four days before the rash begins through four days after the rash appears. 

Anyone who suspects they may have measles should call their medical provider before arriving at the medical office, to avoid exposing others. Clinicians should immediately report any suspected measles cases to the OC Health Care Agency for guidance and testing coordination. 

Vaccination remains the most effective way to prevent measles. About measles immunization:

• Over 800 million doses of the MMR (Measles, Mumps and Rubella) vaccine have been administered worldwide. Decades of research and real-world experience show that the vaccine is highly effective at preventing serious illnesses like measles, mumps, and rubella.
• While no medical intervention is completely without risk, most side effects from the MMR vaccine are mild - like a sore arm or low fever. Serious reactions are rare, and the vaccine’s protection against dangerous disease far outweigh the risks.
• Public health agencies around the world, including the CDC and World Health Organization (WHO), continue to monitor vaccine safety closely.
• The CDC’s Advisory Committee for Immunization Practice and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) recommend MMR vaccination to protect against measles, mumps and rubella.
• Immunizing household members including children, adolescents and adults is the best way to protect infants who are too young to receive the MMR vaccine.
• Infants should receive their first MMR vaccine at 12-15 months of age. The second dose of MMR is given at 4 to 6 years of age before going to school.
• Measles is found in many parts of the world, including Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
• Children 6 to 12 months of age who are traveling internationally are recommended to receive a dose of MMR vaccine prior to travel, to decrease their risk of infection.
• Children 12 months and older as well as adults should receive two doses, at least 28 days apart, before travel if not already vaccinated.

For more information about measles, visit www.cdc.gov/measles orwww.ochealthinfo.com/measles.

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 resources.

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A case of measles has been confirmed in an Orange County resident, an unvaccinated toddler, who had recently traveled domestically. The Orange County Health Care Agency's Communicable Disease Control Division (CDCD) is reaching out to identified contacts.

Measles is an acute viral illness typically presenting with fever, cough, coryza, and conjunctivitis, followed 3-5 days later by a rash. The maculopapular rash typically begins on the face and spreads down the torso and out to the extremities. The incubation period for measles ranges from 7-21 days after exposure, and individuals are infectious from 4 days prior to rash onset until 4 days after rash onset. Measles is highly contagious and spreads via airborne transmission.

Individuals are presumed to be immune to measles if they were 1) born prior to 1957 OR 2) have received two doses of measles-containing vaccine OR 3) have a documented positive IgG titer OR 4) documentation of prior disease. More info...

Recreational use of nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, is an emerging public health concern across the country and in Orange County (OC). While nitrous oxide is traditionally used in medical, automotive or culinary purposes, recent reports and observations indicate a rise in its misuse as an inhalant for short-term euphoric effects.

In response to this growing concern, the Orange County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved an ordinance banning the sale or distribution of nitrous oxide for recreational use. This report is presented to inform a broad range of stakeholders about the issue and the county’s proactive measures to address it. To read, click https://tinyurl.com/HCANitrousOxide. To open a PDF version of the report to download please click here. 

This Suicide Prevention Month, I would like to slow down and take a moment to talk about some ways our well-being, our stories, and our futures can be impacted. I know that life can feel overwhelming. Some days are harder than others, and it’s okay to not feel okay. If you’re carrying pain, sadness, or thoughts that feel too heavy to hold alone, please know this: you are not alone, and there is help.

Depression can look different for everyone. You might feel persistently sad, numb, or even irritable. You may lose interest in things you once enjoyed, struggle with sleep, or feel constantly tired. Some people experience changes in appetite, difficulty concentrating, or a sense of hopelessness or guilt. Sometimes, these feelings of emptiness can lead to thoughts of self-harm or suicide.

If any of this resonates with you, please understand: you are not broken. These are signs of suffering, not signs of weakness. Suffering can be eased—with support, with care, and with time.

Reaching out for help is one of the bravest things you can do. Whether it’s talking to a friend, a therapist or doctor, or calling a crisis line, that first step can open the door to healing. You don’t have to go through this alone.

If you or a loved one need immediate assistance, the 24-Hour Suicide and Crisis Hotline is a call away at 988.

• 988 Lifeline  

You can find suicide prevention resources for teens, veterans, the Trevor Project and more on our Light Up Hope OC website which inspires hope. 

• Light Up Hope OC

If you need help navigating, you can contact a resource navigator, or start with a wellness check-in, or simply search resources in Orange County at OC Navigator.

You are not a burden. You are human—and you are worthy of support, healing, and hope.

This month, and every month, we stand with you. Let’s keep the conversation going, and let’s keep choosing life—together.

About Dr. Atur Turakhia
Atur Turakhia, M.D. is a physician who has Board-Certification from the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in both general Psychiatry as well as with subspecialty Board Certification in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. His role in the OC Health Care Agency and, more specifically, in Behavioral Health Services, is as the Associate Medical Director for Children and Youth Services. Not only has he been recognized by peers in his region as a 3-time Physician of Excellence, he is also an experienced leader, educator, collaborator, mentor, and team-builder.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is issuing this Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory about a new outbreak of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). EVD is a severe illness and is often fatal.

Currently, no suspected, probable, or confirmed EVD cases related to this outbreak have been reported in the United States or outside of the DRC. The risk of spread to the United States is considered low at this time. As a precaution, this Health Advisory summarizes CDC recommendations for U.S. public health departments, clinical laboratories, and healthcare workers about potential EVD case identification, testing, and biosafety considerations in clinical laboratories.

On September 8, 2025, CDC issued a Travel Health Notice for people traveling to the DRC. CDC recommends that all travelers to the affected health zones in DRC avoid contact with ill people during travel and monitor themselves for symptoms of EVD while in the outbreak area and for 21 days after leaving. Travelers who develop symptoms during this time should self-isolate and contact local health authorities or a clinician. At this time, CDC is not recommending additional assessments or monitoring of travelers arriving from DRC by the jurisdictional health departments unless mentioned in the existing VHF guidance provided below.

Full Advisory: https://www.cdc.gov/han/php/notices/han00524.html?ACSTrackingID=DM150467&ACSTrackingLabel=HAN 524 - Health Advisory (General Public)&deliveryName=DM150467

Recovery Month reminds all of us as a community and as health care providers that treatment services and support are available for substance use. We celebrate the successes of those in recovery and communicate hope to all that recovery is both possible and achievable. Most importantly, no one must experience a substance use condition alone and no one has to work through recovery on their own.

One way that the OC Health Care Agency celebrates and supports recovery is through the Orange County Recovery Happens Picnic — held annually in September at a local park. The Recovery Picnic is focused on fun with food, music, and games. Another aspect of the picnic that I appreciate most is it reflects that indeed a whole community of support is available to all, and to everyone regardless of where they are in their recovery journey. Information on resources for treatment and health care are also available, and in a picnic setting, these resources are offered and accessible if someone chooses to request this information and is looking for a place to start in recovery. Whether looking for next steps to seeking care or just wanting to celebrate recovery in a substance free environment, I encourage you to attend.

Recovery Month is also a great opportunity for us to share the various treatment and support services with our community. Health care for substance use conditions is available in a range of settings based off the individual needs and circumstances of the person. A key aspect of recovery for some individuals is medication-based treatments for substance use disorders – also referred to as Medication Assisted Treatment, or ‘MAT.’  These help individuals avoid use of substances by treating withdrawal symptoms, reducing cravings, and addressing the other physiological aspects of these conditions that contribute to substance use. As a psychiatrist, one of the most rewarding times of my work with clients is when someone is in treatment, and they sit down in my office and can’t wait to share about the return of important aspects of their life with their recovery. This could be employment, school, a hobby or meaningful relationship, but what is common to each person is joy from restoring something that is important to them. 

Information about substance treatment services in Orange County is accessible in many ways. Orange County’s 24/7/365 OC Links behavioral health resource phone line is 855-OC-LINKS (625-4657) — also available via chat. Each call is confidential and is answered by OC Links Navigators who are trained behavioral health professionals. Detailed resource information is also available online through OC Navigator at ocnavigator.org. Anyone can visit the website and search/view treatment and health services.  

I hope that whether you are an individual in recovery, someone who is looking for assistance with a substance use condition or a family member or loved one of someone who is experiencing substance use, please know that there is a whole system of care that can help. Recovery Month is an excellent time to support individuals in to care and to celebrate the hope and accomplishments of those already in recovery.

About Dr. Scott Huffman
Dr. Scott Huffman is a Board-Certified Psychiatrist and is the Associate Medical Director for Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Treatment for the Behavioral Health Services (BHS) Division of the OC Health Care Agency. In partnership with BHS leadership, he developed and launched the Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) clinic for BHS in Santa Ana in 2021. He continues to provide direct client service to individuals at the Santa Ana SUD Clinic and works to expand MAT services to more areas of Orange County. Dr. Huffman is originally a paramedic by training, and it was his work with individuals in crisis on 911 calls that was a primary reason for pursuing medical school and a career in behavioral health.

CDPH/Health Advisory– September 4, 2025 – The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) would like to alert healthcare providers, local health departments, laboratories, and travelers about increased detections of New World Screwworm (NWS) in southern Mexico and Central America, where it had been previously eradicated. NWS is a parasitic fly whose larvae feed on living tissue and can infest mammals and birds; it largely affects livestock but can also affect pets, wildlife, and humans. The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently announced identification of a travel-associated case of NWS infestation in a U.S. resident who traveled to El Salvador. Healthcare providers who identify myiasis in a patient should ask about recent travel to a country where NWS is present and notify their local health department (LHD). The LHD should notify the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) of any suspected human cases. Suspected cases of NWS infestation in animals must be reported to the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA).

Please see the full US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) press release here: https://www.hhs.gov/press-room/hhs-cdc-usda-traveler-associated-screwworm-case-surveillance.html

The full CDPH health advisory here: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/OPA/Pages/CAHAN/New-World-Screwworm-Outbreak-in-Mexico-and-Central-America.aspx