Just one day after Orange County officials announced confirmed a case of measles in a toddler, Los Angeles County confirmed a case of their own, and this person also visited Orange County.
Unlike the O.C. measles case, which involved a child who had not traveled, the L.A. case is tied to a traveler who was on Viva Aerobus Flight #518, the L.A. County Department of Public Health said in a news release.
O.C. Health Care Agency officials said in their own release that the traveler also visited there.
The two agencies listed the following places and times as possible sites of exposure to measles:
- Tom Bradley International Terminal at LAX between 10:45 p.m. Jan. 26 and 1 a.m. Jan. 27
- Goofy’s Kitchen at the Disneyland Hotel between 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on Jan. 28
- Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park from 12:30 p.m. to closing on Jan. 28
- Dunkin’ Donuts at 22020 Ventura Blvd. in Woodland Hills from 3 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. on Jan. 30
Measles is a highly contagious virus, with symptoms often appearing between seven and 14 days after exposure.
Those symptoms include a high fever, rash, cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes.
“Measles is a serious respiratory disease that spreads easily through the air and on surfaces, particularly among people who are not already protected from it,” said Dr. Muntu Davis, Los Angeles County health officer. “A person can spread the illness to others before they have symptoms, and it can take seven to twenty-one days for symptoms to show up after exposure.”
If you were exposed but have gone 21 days without developing symptoms, you are no longer at risk, L.A. County officials said.
For those exposed at LAX, look for symptoms until Feb. 16. For Disneyland, the date is Feb. 18, and for Dunkin’ Donuts, it’s Feb. 20.
Health officials also reminded the public to get vaccinated against measles.
“As LA County residents begin to travel this summer and with measles cases increasing among those who have recently traveled, we remind everyone that the best way to protect yourself and your family from infection is with the highly effective measles vaccine,” Davis said.
