Measles Case Sparks Public Exposure Warning At 3 LA County Locations

LOS ANGELES, CA — Public health officials are investigating a seventh case of measles confirmed in Los Angeles County this year and warned that members of the public may have been exposed at LAX and several other places this month.

The infected person arrived at LAX's Tom Bradley International Airport Terminal B, Gate 155 on British Airways Flight 281 on July 3, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.

"In collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, passengers seated near the infected traveler on the flight will be notified by their respective local health departments," the DPH said.

People who were at that gate on July 3 from 3 to 4 p.m. may have been exposed to measles, officials said.

Additionally, people who were on the Hertz Car Rental Shuttle from LAX from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. may have ben exposed, officials said.

Finally, people may have been exposed to measles by the patient at an unnamed healthcare facility. Officials at that facility are directly notifying patients and staff who may have been exposed, health officials said.

People who were at any of those locations may be at risk of developing measles seven to 21 days after exposure, according to the health department.

This is the seventh case of measles confirmed in LA County this year.

Other recent cases include two in June: An infected person who was at Hollywood Burbank Airport and another who was at LAX.

Cases earlier this year included a person who arrived at LAX and spent time at Disneyland while infectious and another who visited at least three restaurants while potentially contagious.

There have been 2,170 confirmed cases of measles in the nation as of July 2, according to the DPH. Most of these cases are linked to an ongoing measles outbreaks.

January had the distinction of having the highest number of measles cases since the U.S. achieved elimination status in 2000, according to county health officials.

The majority of those infected are people who are unvaccinated or have unknown vaccination status, officials said.

Large swaths of the country are at an increased risk of contracting the highly contagious disease due to falling vaccination rates, according to a study published this year in the journal Nature Health. The measles vaccine was first used in 1963 and combined with mumps and rubella vaccines in 1971.

The researchers analyzed county-level MMR vaccination estimates to determine the level of measles risk locally. In Southern California, two counties are in the "very high risk" category.

Measles is a highly contagious viral illness that spreads through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs or sneezes, officials said. It can also spread through direct contact with infectious droplets. Symptoms typically include fever, cough, runny nose and red eyes, followed by a rash that begins on the face and spreads to the body.

People should check their immunity status and watch for symptoms, according to authorities, who added that those who are not immunized should talk to a health care provider, and stay home and limit interactions until 21 days after the exposure.