Public health officials have issued an alert after potential measles exposures at Los Angeles International Airport and Children's Hospital of Orange County during the Thanksgiving holiday period.
A traveler infected with measles arrived at LAX's Tom Bradley International Terminal on Qatar Airways Flight 739 from Doha on November 27th. Anyone present at Terminal B between 12:30 PM and 6:00 PM that day may have been exposed.
In Orange County, an infant returning from international travel visited the Children's Hospital emergency room three times: Saturday (12-5 PM), Monday (2-10 PM), and Tuesday (5:30-9 PM).
The highest risk groups include:
- Unvaccinated individuals
- Infants
- Pregnant women
- People with weakened immune systems
This comes amid rising measles cases nationwide, with 280 cases reported as of November 21st compared to 59 cases in all of 2022. Children under 5 account for 41% of cases, while 31% are among those aged 5-19. Nearly 90% of cases occurred in unvaccinated individuals.
The CDC recommends children receive their first measles vaccine dose between 12-15 months, with a second dose at ages 4-6. The MMR vaccine is 97% effective at preventing measles when both doses are administered.
Measles spreads through airborne transmission and can remain infectious in the air for hours. An infected person can transmit the virus four days before and after developing the characteristic rash. Symptoms typically appear 7-21 days after exposure and include:
- High fever (potentially over 104°F)
- Cough
- Runny nose
- Red, watery eyes
- Rash
Serious complications are possible, particularly in young children. These include pneumonia and brain swelling, which can lead to permanent disability or death. The CDC estimates 1-3 deaths occur per 1,000 measles infections in children.
Parents of infants traveling internationally should consult their healthcare providers about early vaccination between 6-11 months of age.
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