Measles Outbreak Hits Los Angeles County

LOS ANGELES, CA — The measles has made its way through Los Angeles like a tourist, hitting everything from LAX to a taco stand to UCLA, health department officials confirmed Monday. The outbreak appears to have come to Los Angeles through travelers, and it took root among the unvaccinated.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health confirmed an outbreak of five measles cases in Los Angeles residents. Four of the cases are linked to the same international travelers. The additional case is also linked to an international traveler. According to health officials four non-residents with measles recently traveled through the county. The five new cases are the first confirmed by Public Health among county residents and the first cases of transmission within L.A. County in 2019.

The majority of the victims were unvaccinated.

"We will likely see additional measles cases in Los Angeles County, so it is important if you or someone you know has the symptoms of measles or has been exposed to measles to contact your health-care provider by phone right away before seeking treatment," Los Angeles County Health Officer Muntu Davis said. "The best way to protect yourself and to prevent the spread of measles is to get the measles immunization, with two doses of measles immunization being about 97-percent effective at preventing measles."

The following locations have been identified as potential measles exposures:

-- LAX, Tom Bradley International Terminal, Gate 218 on April 1 from 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.

-- UCLA, Franz Hall on April 2, 4, and 9 and Boelter Hall on April 2 and 9 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m;.

-- Cal State Los Angeles, Main Library, on April 11 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.;

-- El Pollo Loco Restaurant, 1939 Verdugo Blvd., La Canada Flintridge, on April 11 from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.; and,

-- El Sauz Tacos, 4432 San Fernando Rd., Glendale, on April 13 from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Common symptoms associated with measles include fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes and a rash which usually appears 10 to 21 days after exposure. Anyone who develops measles symptoms should contact their doctor by phone before visiting their doctor's office.

Infected people can infect those around them before they have symptoms and know they are infected, and the measles virus can be transmitted from one person to another up to four days before the onset of a rash, health officials said.

City News Service and Patch Staffer Paige Austin contributed to this report.