Patient with measles visits Sherman Oaks restaurant
Health officials on Tuesday were warning the public about a third case of measles confirmed in the county, this time involving a resident who recently traveled internationally.
None of the three measles cases are related, according to the county Department of Public Health.
The most recent patient, who was not identified, visited the Mardi Gras Tuesday restaurant at 14543 Ventura Blvd. in Sherman Oaks on Jan. 24, and health officials warned that anyone who was at the establishment between 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. may have been exposed.
People who were exposed could potentially develop measles roughly 7 to 21 days following exposure. Anyone at risk was advised to check their immunization status, particularly if they have not been previously infected.
On Saturday, public health officials confirmed a measles case involving a person who arrived in Los Angeles on Viva Aerobus Flight 518 — an international flight — at the Tom Bradley International Airport Terminal B, gate 201A at Los Angeles International Airport on Jan. 26. The person may have exposed others to the measles virus at Terminal B between Jan. 26 at 10:45 p.m. to 1 a.m. Jan. 27.
The patient may also have exposed people to the measles virus on Jan. 30 at Dunkin’ Donuts, 22020 Ventura Blvd. in Woodland Hills from 3 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.
Passengers seated near the infected traveler will be notified by their respective local health departments in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. They should monitor themselves for measles symptoms through Feb. 16.
The first patient had also recently traveled internationally, according to the Department of Public Health. That person was identified in a health care setting.
Public Health officials were working to identify any other potential exposure sites in L.A. County and any other people who may have been exposed, and will assess their risk for developing a measles infection.
There have been 588 confirmed cases of measles in the nation as of Jan. 30, the highest number of measles cases in January since the U.S. achieved elimination status in 2000, according to the department. Most of these cases are linked to an ongoing measles outbreak in South Carolina and one outbreak each in Arizona and Utah.
There have been two recent cases in Orange County, one in a young adult who had traveled internationally, the other in a toddler.
The OC Health Care Agency learned about one confirmed case of a patient who traveled through LAX and could possibly be the person who arrived Monday. The agency referred to the press release by its Los Angeles County counterparts in its press release.
The exposed patient was in the Disneyland complex on Wednesday, with potential exposure windows that included: Goofy’s Kitchen in Disneyland Hotel, 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park, from 12:30 p.m. to closing.
The HCA Communicable Disease Control Division was working with Disneyland to contact employees who may have been exposed, officials said.
People who might have been exposed were advised to check their immunity status and contact their doctor about receiving the Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine if they are unvaccinated or unsure.
“If exposure occurred less than seven days ago: Talk to your health care provider about vaccination or immune globulin for prevention, OC Health officials said. “Immunoglobulin is recommended for certain individuals, such as infants under 12 months, pregnant people without immunity or those with weakened immune systems.”
Common symptoms of the virus are fever, cough, red watery eyes and a rash that usually starts on the head and spreads. The virus spreads through the air and by direct contact with an infected person. An infection can be spreading the virus for four days before the rash is noticed.