Measles Infected Student Exposes Thousands by Commuting on BART

A University of California, Berkeley student infected with measles may have exposed thousands of passengers to the virus travelling on the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART), report authorities.

Public health officials confirm that on Wednesday afternoon last week, he commuted on BART to his school in East Bay from his home in Contra Costa County. He was infected with measles during a recent trip to Asia and had not received any vaccination. Before being diagnosed, the student was in Berkley attending classes and travelling by BART between Feb 4 and Feb 7, putting both students and fellow travelers at risk.

BART cars travel around the Bay Area and all passengers who used the transit between Feb.4 to Feb .7 during the commuting hours are potentially exposed to measles, reports the associated press. The officials from the Contra Costa Health Services urge people to seek medical attention and treatment as soon as they begin showing symptoms.

The measles virus transmits through the air and can survive for nearly two hours, according the Center of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Symptoms include mild fever accompanied by blotchy rashes, cough, runny nose, eye infection and sore throat that begins to show 7 -14 days after being infected. Infected people are contagious for several days before or after the rashes appear.

Dr. Janet Berreman, health officer for the City of Berkeley mentioned in a statement, "Measles is a serious, highly contagious disease. It spreads through the air, when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Fortunately, the measles vaccine is highly effective in preventing infection."

The CDC said the use of measles vaccine in the U.S. had reduced its incidence by more than 99 percent compared to the pre-vaccine era. But, those who are not immunized are at high risk of contracting the deadly virus. People who have already had measles or those who are vaccinated are less likely to catch the disease.

The train cars and areas likely infected with the virus will be disinfected and cleaned, reports CBS News.