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A Los Angeles resident with measles went to Disneyland while contagious last week, public health officials confirmed on Tuesday, according tomultiple reports.
Prior to visiting the popular theme park in Anaheim, Calif. on Wednesday, Oct. 16, the infectious individual stopped at a Starbucks at 3006 S. Spulveda Boulevard in West Los Angeles. They then continued their day at Disneyland, theLos Angeles Timesreported.
Any resident who was at the Starbucks location between 7:50 a.m. and 10 a.m., or at Disneyland between 9:15 a.m. and 8:35 p.m. may have been exposed to the viral infection.
This case is already linked to a new case in the county, officials said. There have been 19 measles cases among L.A county residents in 2019.
“Anyone who may have been at these locations on these dates during these timeframes may be at risk of developing measles for up to 21 days after being exposed,” the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health said in a statement, according toCNN.
According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, measles is a “highly contagious virus that lives in the nose and throat mucus of an infected person.” It spreads through coughing and sneezing can live for up to two hours in the air where an infected person coughed or sneezed.
“Measles is so contagious that if one person has it, up to 90% of the people close to that person who are not immune will also become infected,” the federal agency writes on their website.
CDC/ Heinz F. Eichenwald, MD
“The MMR immunization is a very effective measure to protect yourself and to prevent the unintentional spread of this potentially serious infection to others,” she added.
Vaccinations are available through healthcare providers and at local pharmacies and health clinics. For residents who are uninsured,federally funded health centersin the area may offer no- or low-cost vaccinations.
source: people.com
