The OC Health Care Agency (HCA) has confirmed a case of measles in an infant returning home to Orange County (OC) following international travel. The affected traveler arrived at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on Wednesday, February 19.
Additional information regarding this traveler’s activity at LAX can be found in the County of Los Angeles Public Health Newsroom.There were no additional community exposures.
Anyone who may have been exposed and who are at increased risk of severe outcomes, such as infants, pregnant women, and those with compromised immune systems should:
- Review whether they are immune to measles or not. People who are not fully immunized against measles or who don’t know if they are immune to measles already should talk with a health care provider about receiving the Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine.
- Monitor themselves for illness with fever and/or an unexplained rash from 7 days to 21 days after their exposure (the time period when symptoms may develop); if symptoms develop, stay at home and call a health care provider immediately for guidance.
“Measles is a highly contagious virus that can cause severe illness such as pneumonia, brain swelling and even death, especially young kids who are not protected,” said Dr. Regina Chinsio-Kwong, County Health Officer. In recent years, 25% of identified measles cases in the United States were hospitalized. Common symptoms include fever, rash, cough, and red, watery eyes and it spreads very easily by air and by direct contact with an infected person. People are contagious from approximately four days before the rash begins through four days after the rash appears. Anyone suspecting that they have measles should call their medical provider before arriving at the medical office, to avoid exposing others to the measles virus. Immunization provides the best protection.”
About measles immunization:
- Safety of MMR vaccines: Over 800 million doses of MMR vaccine have been given worldwide, with studies consistently showing that vaccination prevents serious illness with minimal risks. The benefits far outweigh any risks. Side effects are usually mild, such as soreness where the shot was given.
- Infants should receive their first MMR vaccine at 12-15 months of age. The second dose of MMR is given at 4 to 6 years of age before going to school.
- Immunizing household members including children, adolescents and adults is the best way to protect infants who are too young to receive the MMR vaccine.
- Measles is found in many parts of the world, including Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Receiving an MMR vaccine before international travel is recommended for those who have not already received two doses. Children 6 to 12 months of age who are traveling internationally are recommended to receive a dose of MMR vaccine prior to travel, to decrease their risk of infection.
For more information about measles, visit www.cdc.gov/measles or www.ochealthinfo.com/measles.
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