Topline:
Air travelers may have been exposed to measles last week at LAX and a Chick-Fil-A restaurant in Northridge, public health officials warned on Thursday.
Where were the exposures? Travelers at LAX Terminal B on Jan. 25 between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. may have been exposed to the highly contagious virus that causes measles. People who visited a Chick-Fil-A at 18521 Devonshire St. in Northridge the same day between 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. also may have been exposed. Los Angeles County Public Health officials are investigating additional locations.
How does measles spread? Measles is caused by a virus and is highly contagious. It is spread through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Symptoms include fever, runny nose and an itchy rash of red-brown spots. It 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, according to the CDC.
Who is at risk? Anyone who may have been exposed at the noted locations. Health officials are urging those who are not fully vaccinated against measles to monitor for symptoms — which typically emerge a week to 21 days after exposure.
If you’ve had measles or you got the measles, mumps and rubella — or MMR — shots as a child, you are protected. Those most at risk include babies, young children, pregnant people and those with a weakened immune system.
