Health officials in Los Angeles and Orange County warn that people traveling through LAX during the Thanksgiving travel rush and others who visited Children’s Hospital of Orange County may have been exposed to measles.
On Thursday, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health announced there was one case of measles from a traveler who arrived on Qatar Airways flight QR 0739 at the Tom Bradley International Airport Terminal B, Gate 155 on November 27th.
“Individuals who were at Terminal B from approximately 12:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. may be at risk of developing measles due to exposure to this traveler,” health officials said in a press release. “In collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control, passengers assigned to specific seats that may been exposed on Qatar Airways flight QR 0739 on November 27th, 2024, will be notified by local departments of health.”
The Orange County Health Care Agency also confirmed a case of measles in an infant who returned from international travel. Health officials said that on Nov. 30, the baby was at the Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) Emergency Department from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
The baby was also at the CHOC Emergency Department on Monday from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Tuesday from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
“The HCA has been working with Children’s Hospital of Orange County to contact anyone who may have been exposed to this case and who are at increased risk of severe outcomes, such as infants, pregnant women, and those with compromised immune systems,” according to officials in the press release.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that as of Nov. 21, 20224, there were 280 measles cases in 32 jurisdictions, including in California. There were also 16 outbreaks reported in 2024 and 70% of cases were outbreak-associated.
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In 202, there were four reported outbreaks and 49% were outbreak-associated.
Dr. Amesh Adaljia, Senior Scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security and an infectious disease specialist physician, told KNX News’ Jon Baird that while deaths from measles are rare in the U.S., that's not the case outside the country.
“It was, and continues to be, a deadly infectious disease. It still kills tens of thousands of children, all over the world,” he said.
He added that when measles infects you, it erases immunity to other diseases.
“So for a period of time after you have measles, you are susceptible to many infectious diseases, including ones that you've already developed immunity to through vaccination,” he said.
According to the CDC, symptoms include high fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes. A rash can also appear three to five days after the first symptoms.
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