South Pasadena Woman Refuses Federal Health Official’s Orders to Quarantine Herself

A South Pasadena woman reportedly is refusing federal health official orders to stay locked down under quarantine with her younger sister, who is infected with measles.

Maura Tellez, 24, was one of the confirmed cases of measles caught recently at Disneyland. So far, there have been 26 confirmed cases of measles, according to health officials.

Although Tellez’ older sister, Ylsa, 26, has no symptoms, the Centers for Disease Control, possibly erring on the side of caution, called the elder Tellez, who also got a visit from a local health department, all wanting her to quarantine herself inside.
“I’m just a little upset because if there are so many cases of people that got the shot who also developed measles, then why are they attacking me specifically?” Ylsa told ABC7. “I don’t think it’s necessary for me to be on house arrest.”

The family received a form from the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, and it’s a request for legal intervention. It mentions a home quarantine, with no school or work until Jan. 29.

“(They were) saying I need to get vaccinated and I need to be quarantined, otherwise I’m going to go to jail or something, or I’m going to get a misdemeanor,” Ylsa told ABC7.

Ylsa told ABC7 that she is taking immune-boosting supplements and plans on speaking with a doctor to decide whether or not she will get measles vaccine.

Still, health officials said there still should be some concern in the Tellez family.

“Measles is one of the most highly communicable infections that we know of, so any susceptible individual who is within close proximity to somebody with measles will probably get infected,” Dr. Jill Hoffman with Children’s Hospital Los Angeles told ABC7.