U.S. Multi-State Measles Outbreak Advisory from the CDC

On Friday, January 23, 2015, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Health Alert Network issued an advisory regarding the multi-state measles outbreak which began in California in December. 

Measles is a highly contagious, acute viral illness. It begins with a fever, cough, runny nose and conjunctivitis (pink eye) which lasts 2-4 days prior to rash onset. Measles can cause severe health complications, including pneumonia, encephalitis, and death. It is transmitted by contact with an infected person through coughing and sneezing; infected people are contagious from 4 days before their rash starts through 4 days afterwards. After an infected person leaves a location, the virus remains viable for up to 2 hours on surfaces and in the air.

Measles were declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000, because of high population immunity achieved by high two-dose measles vaccine coverage. However, measles is still endemic in many parts of the world, and outbreaks can occur in the U.S. when unvaccinated groups are exposed to imported measles virus.

Measles can be prevented with the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine. In the United States, widespread use of the measles vaccine had led to a greater than 99% reduction in measles cases compared with the pre-vaccine era. From 2000 to 2013, a range of 37 to 220 measles cases per year were reported in the United States, and most of these originated outside the country.  However, in 2014, 644 measles cases from 27 states were reported to CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases.

Yolo County Health Department is reporting for the past school year (2013-14), 92% of entering kindergarteners were fully vaccinated.  More information

If you do not know if you received a vaccine, a blood test can determine your immunity.

City News

Central Park Restroom Update
The City has entered into a contract with local architect, Ty Smalley, to prepare the improvement plans for the former Central Park restroom building.  Per City Council direction, this WPA building will be converted to storage use for the Historical Society.  Ty is preparing base plans from existing information.  Staff will be setting up a meeting with the Museum/Historical Society and Ty in the next few weeks to review progress.  Per the agreement with the City, the Historical Society has provided the City with the funds necessary for Ty's work.  Once plans are prepared by the architect, the Historical Society is to provide the balance of funds necessary for construction.  These funds would be secured prior to the City going out for construction bids. 

Richards Hotel/Conference Center Update

Community News 

UC Davis Men's Basketball vs Cal Poly - Jan 31st 7:00pm

The game will be televised on ESPNU.  Join the fun and wear gold to the game to show your Aggie Spirit.

• First arriving UC Davis students will receive a FREE gold Aggie Pack t-shirt compliments of Tandem Properties.
• All Jr. Aggie Club members who attend the game and check-in at the Information Booth will receive a free certificate for frozen yogurt to Yolo Berry
• City Bicycle Co. Giveaway - Fans will have an opportunity to win a UC Davis model fixie courtesy of City Bicycle Co. Fans can enter the contest by obtaining a raffle ticket at the City Bicycle Co. booth in the upper northeast corner of the pavilion

"Visit Yolo County" App for Mobile Devices

The Yolo County Visitors Bureau has launched a new county-wide Calendar of Events app which will allow visitors to easily find new things to see and explore in Yolo County.

"Visit Yolo County" is the first central location where all Yolo County tourist events will be organized.  The app focuses on features a typical user wants in a calendar app when they are on the go, including: login with Facebook, browse events near your current location, "check-in" to events, add an event to the mobile device's native calendar application, read comments, pictures and reviews, and see who's going.

The new app is free and can be downloaded in the iTunes store by searching "Visit Yolo County."