Visitors to Los Angeles International Airport, Disneyland Resort, Universal Studios and other Southern California tourist sites may have been exposed to the measles between Aug. 11 and 15, when an infected teen girl from New Zealand traveled through the area, Los Angeles County and Orange County health officials confirmed Friday, Aug. 23.
The Los Angeles Department of Public Health reported that the girl arrived at LAX Aug. 11. She visited Disneyland on Aug. 12; Universal Studios on Aug. 14; and TCL Chinese Theatre, the Santa Monica Pier and Madame Tussauds Hollywood on Aug. 15. She left town from LAX on Aug 15, health officials said.
Officials with the Orange County Health Care Agency said the girl also may have exposed people at the Desert Palms Hotel, at 631 W. Katella Ave., in Anaheim, through the length of her stay.
“We were notified that the tourist visited multiple Southern California locations and have been advised by OC Health Care Agency that the risk to cast and guests is likely low,” Dr. Pamela Hymel, chief medical officer for Disney Parks, said in a statement Friday.
The Health Care Agency was notified by New Zealand health officials and has been working with them and California public health officials as the investigation into possible exposure continues, said Orange County Health Officer Nichole Quick.
“At this point, there’s no concern to visit either of those locations,” she said of Disneyland Resort and the Desert Palms.
Los Angeles County health officials also said there was no ongoing possibility of exposure.
“There is no known current risk related to measles that exists at these venues at this time,” officials said in a statement.
Measles spreads through bodily secretions, such as a cough or sneeze. The virus can stay in the air for one to two hours.
“It’s a very highly infectious disease,” Quick said. Ninety percent of those who are unvaccinated, she said, are likely to contract the disease if exposed to the virus.
The Orange County Health Care Agency advises people who may have been exposed to the measles to:
- Monitor themselves for illness with fever and/or an unexplained rash from seven to 21 days after possible exposure. If symptoms develop, they should stay at home and call a health care provider immediately.
- Review their vaccination history if they have not previously had measles. People who have not had measles or the measles vaccine should talk with a health care provider about receiving the Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccination. Vaccination will not prevent illness following exposure but it will protect against infection in the future.
