Berkeley's Measles Ultimatum: 21-Day Quarantine For Unvaccinated Kids If Outbreak Spreads

BERKELEY (KPIX 5) – With the measles outbreak spreading fast, Berkeley has issued an ultimatum for parents who refuse to vaccinate their children.

The city's public health department is recommending a 21-day quarantine for all unvaccinated children, at local schools where there is a measles outbreak.

MEASLES OUTBREAK:

• PHOTOS: Children Infected With Measles
• Measles Outbreak Spreads To Solano County, Young Child Tests Positive
• New Measles Cases Confirmed In Marin And San Mateo Counties

"It's an absolutely standard public health practice and public health recommendation," said Berkeley public health officer Dr. Janet Berreman.

Berreman said it's a practice that is now desperately needed. In the last month alone, there have been 91 new measles cases in California.

"And the more cases there are, the more likely it is that there will be one in Berkeley," Berreman said.

When asked how the city would ensure children would stay home, Berreman said, "There are legal teeth in that we can issue formal orders. We usually don't have to go to that point, but we certainly can and we certainly have."

Jere Brillman, whose daughter attends a Berkeley school is thrilled by the recommendation. "They shouldn't even let kids in school that aren't vaccinated," Brillman told KPIX 5.

As of Monday night, there are six cases of measles in Alameda County, two in Marin County, two in San Mateo County, two in Santa Clara County and one case in Solano County.