Five L.A. County residents confirmed to have measles

LOS ANGELES (CNS) — Health officials said Monday they have confirmed five cases of measles in Los Angeles County residents.

Four cases are linked to one another through international travel and an additional single case is also associated with international travel, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health said.

The news comes after four non-residents with measles were reported last week by health officials to have traveled through the county. The five new cases are the first cases of measles 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 healthcare 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, from 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. on April 1.

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

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

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

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

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.