California Detects Measles in Wastewater, Raising Concerns of Undetected Community Transmission

California health officials have detected measles in routine wastewater testing, raising concerns as the state experiences its largest outbreak in seven years. The discovery could signal undetected community transmission, despite the state's overall vaccination rate of 95%. Measles is highly contagious, and officials warn that immunity gaps can still allow the virus to spread, despite strong statewide vaccination coverage. Symptoms typically appear 7-14 days after exposure and include high fever, dry cough, runny nose, and a rash.