Measles Case Sparks Public Exposure Warning At LAX And Beyond

LOS ANGELES, CA — Public health officials are investigating a fifth 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 most recent patient, who was not publicly identified, arrived at LAX's Tom Bradley International Airport on Cathay Pacific Airlines flight CX 884 on June 11 while infectious. People who were at the international terminal on that day from 10 a.m. to noon may have been exposed to measles, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health said Thursday.

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

After arriving in Los Angeles, the patient traveled to the Hilton Los Angeles Airport Hotel at 5711 W Century Blvd. People who were at that hotel from 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. on that day may be at risk of contracting the disease, officials said.

Additionally, health officials say the patient may have exposed others to measles at "additional healthcare settings" in the county. Officials did not name those places and said the facilities are directly notifying patents and staff who may have been exposed.

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 fifth case of measles confirmed in LA County this year.

Other cases include 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 2,073 confirmed cases of measles in the nation as of June 12, according to the department. 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.