A traveler infected with measles flew from London to Los Angeles International Airport and then to Orange County this month, potentially exposing the public to the highly contagious disease, health officials said Wednesday.
According to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, the person arrived at Tom Bradley International Terminal B 202 on Norwegian Atlantic Airlines flight Z0711 at 2:18 pm on Friday.
Officials warn that individuals who were in the Los Angeles International Airport terminal between 2:30 and 4 p.m. Friday may be at risk for measles. It’s unclear how many people may be infected.
Measles symptoms include a fever over 101 degrees, a cough, runny nose, red, watery eyes, white spots that may appear in the mouth two to three days after symptoms begin, and a rash three to five days later with other signs of illness. Measles rash usually starts on the face and spreads throughout the body, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The sick traveler also visited several locations in Orange County:
Friday, July 26:
- Denny’s Restaurant, 1168 W. Katella Ave., Anaheim (7-9 p.m.)
Saturday, July 27th:
- CVS Pharmacy, 1803 S. Harbor Blvd., Anaheim (12:45-2 pm)
- Walmart, 1120 S. Anaheim Blvd., Anaheim (1-3:30 p.m.)
Sunday, July 28:
- Anaheim Global Medical Center Emergency Department, 1025 S. Anaheim Blvd., Anaheim (2-5 p.m.)
- CVS Pharmacy, 1676 W. Katella Ave., Anaheim (4-5 p.m.)
Health officials encourage anyone who visited one of the exposure sites during that time to confirm they have been vaccinated against measles. Unvaccinated individuals who have not had measles are at risk of developing symptoms one to three weeks after exposure. If a person does begin to experience symptoms, health officials recommend staying home and calling a health care provider for guidance.
“Measles is highly contagious and can cause severe illness in some people,” Orange County Health Officer Dr. Regina Chinsio-Kwong said in a prepared statement. “It can easily pass through the air and connect with an infected person. Spread by direct contact. People are contagious from about four days before to four days after the rash appears.
Young children, pregnant women and people who are immunocompromised are at greater risk for complications from measles, the CDC says.
Most Americans are vaccinated against measles in early childhood, although measles vaccination rates among California children have declined in recent years, raising concerns that the virus may spread more widely. Measles cases are on the rise across the country.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recorded 188 cases of measles in the United States so far, more than double the number reported last year. As of this month, there are 12 cases in California.
Of this year’s cases, 85% of those infected were unvaccinated or had unknown vaccine status. Nearly half of reported cases require hospitalization, according to the CDC.
“The best way to protect yourself and your family from infection is with a highly effective measles vaccine,” Los Angeles County Health Officer Dr. Montu Davis said in a statement.
