Public Health officials Friday confirmed a case of measles in a Los Angeles County resident who recently traveled internationally and visited at least three stores in the Santa Clarita Valley, possibly exposing others.
County Department of Public Health officials warned that people may have been exposed at all three locations, with the risk higher for people who are not immunized against measles.
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According to health officials, the patient visited three locations on May 28:
-- Costco, 18659 Via Princessa, Santa Clarita, from 10 a.m. to noon;
-- Trader Joes, 19037 Golden Valley Road, Santa Clarita, from 2:30 to 4 p.m.; and
-- Walmart, 25450, The Old Road, Stevenson Ranch, from 3:15 to 4:45 p.m.
Health officials warned that people who were at those locations could be at risk of developing measles between seven and 21 days of exposure. Such people should verify their vaccination status and monitor themselves for symptoms.
"Measles is a serious respiratory disease that spreads easily through the air and on surfaces, particularly among people who are not already protected from it," Dr. Muntu Davis, county health officer, said in a statement. "A person can spread the illness to others before they have symptoms, and it can take seven to 21 days for symptoms to show up after exposure. Measles can lead to severe disease in young children and vulnerable adults. The best way to protect yourself and your family from infection is with the highly effective measles vaccine."
Symptoms of measles can include fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes and fatigue. A red rash usually appears one to four days after symptoms begin, starting at the head and then spreading to the lower body. There is no cure or treatment.
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