Measles cases are spiking across the country, and Bay Area health officials are sounding the alarm for residents to double-check their vaccination status. The San Mateo County Health, joining forces with its Bay Area counterparts, is preaching vigilance after several recent cases and a national uptick tied to travelers returning from abroad. Their battle cry: Get your shots updated, especially if you plan to jet-set around the globe in the coming months.

This isn’t just a local flare-up. The CDC has confirmed 64 measles cases sprawled over 17 jurisdictions, mostly in unvaccinated children over 12 months old. Given the Bay Area's trio of international airports, the risk is real—measles doesn't need a passport to travel. The infection can spread seamlessly through the air, with infected droplets lingering indoors, waiting to make your acquaintance.

As per San Mateo County Health's warning, symptoms of the virus manifest initially as fever, cough, and runny nose, followed by a rash after a couple of days. One out of every five people infected with measles lands in the hospital, and the disease is deadliest among the very young, the old, pregnant women, and those with weakened immune systems.

Health Officers from a swath of Bay Area counties are united in their message: Vaccination is your best defense. Kids should get their MMR shots starting at 12 to 15 months, with a booster between 4 and 6 years. If you're going to travel internationally, even infants 6 to 12 months old should start to get vaccinated early. If you're a teen or adult who has never been vaccinated—now's the time.

"While the risk of exposure to measles in the Bay Area is still low, it’s important to make sure that everyone has the strongest protections against this dangerous disease," San Mateo County Health Officer Dr. Kismet Baldwin-Santana remarked. After you land back in the US, keep an eye out for measles signs for three weeks. Don't end up with an avoidable disease or sidelined in quarantine.