Possible measles exposure at Starbucks in Bucks County, health officials warn

NEWTOWN, Pa. (WPVI) -- Health officials in Bucks County are warning about a positive measles case that may have ties to a Starbucks.

According to the Bucks County Health Department, a vaccinated adult who recently traveled to Texas last week, while potentially contagious, tested positive for measles on Wednesday night.

The positive case prompted a warning to anyone who visited the Starbucks at 2896 S. Eagle Road in Newtown between 10:50 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. on March 19.

RELATED: 5 key questions about measles answered amid outbreak

Officials are calling this a rare breakthrough case.

Officials said that the individual who tested positive experienced mild symptoms.

"You'll have a mild case, less likely to spread it to someone unvaccinated," Dr. Damsker said.

All other locations where the individual is known to have traveled have been traced, and people potentially impacted will be notified.

"Starbucks was the only retail facility that he was at, we can't track who's there. Everywhere else we can track," said Bucks County Health Department Director, Dr. David Damsker.

This is the first confirmed case of measles in a Bucks County resident since 2017.

Measles was considered widely eradicated in the United States because of the vaccine. However, the CDC now says there are 378 confirmed cases in 17 states since March 20.

"It's starting to come back now because people are thinking the vaccine is worse than the disease. And I'd argue the vaccine is not worse than the disease," Dr. Damsker said. "Getting the disease even in someone with a mild case can make you pretty uncomfortable, and if you're unlucky can have a pretty negative side effect."

Earlier this month, a case of measles was confirmed in an unvaccinated Montgomery County child.

Health officials were also notified of a confirmed case of measles in a person who traveled from D.C. to New York City on Amtrak while contagious.

"It's literally the most contagious virus that exists in public health," Dr. Damsker said. "It's really easy to get."

"Monitor for symptoms, especially a cough, runny nose or red eyes. Other symptoms of measles include headache, sneezing, and a red skin rash starting on the face and neck," the health department said.

The rise in measles cases also has doctors very concerned, but they say it can easily be solved through vaccination.

"Two doses of the vaccine will be 97% effective in preventing all illness. However, even though a vaccinated person can still get measles, they are more likely to experience a mild illness and are thus less likely to spread it," Dr. Damsker said. "The best way to hold this virus in check is to have high levels of community vaccination rates."

Infected individuals generally begin to experience symptoms within 10-14 days of exposure.