Measles Case Confirmed In LA County

LOS ANGELES, CA — A traveler who passed through Los Angeles International Airport and stayed in town for two days while infected with measles may have exposed others to the disease, health officials warned Thursday.

The patient was at LAX on July 5 and a time that is still being determined. The patient is also believed to have visited the Hilton Los Angeles Airport between 7:30 p.m. July 5 and 1 p.m. July 7, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.

People who were at those locations during those times could be at risk of developing measles between seven and 21 days from exposure.

Anyone at risk of infection should verify their vaccination status and monitor themselves for symptoms, health officials said. The risk of infection is higher for people who are not immunized against measles.

"Measles is a highly contagious respiratory illness that can linger in the air and on surfaces, making it easy to spread, 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.

City News Service contributed to this report.