Measles is again detected at LAX

Health officials urge caution amid World Cup crowds in L.A. and the Bay Area.

- By RONG-GONG LIN II

A person infected with measles flew on a transpacific flight and passed through Los Angeles International Airport last week, potentially exposing other passengers to the highly contagious disease.

This latest case comes as travelers surge into Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area for the FIFA World Cup, and as measles is on the upswing — posing a particular risk to the unvaccinated, including infants who are too young to be inoculated and for whom the disease can be especially dangerous.

“I think they seem to be popping up more and more often,” said Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, a UC San Francisco infectious diseases expert, “and that’s because it really reflects how much measles there is—not just in the U.S. or even Mexico and Canada, but around the world.”

This is the fourth measles case confirmed in a passenger passing through LAX while possibly contagious this year, and the sixth case overall reported by L.A. County health officials. Just a few days earlier, health officials in the Bay Area warned that a measles-infected passenger had also traveled through San Francisco International Airport and potentially exposed others to the disease while visiting stores in San José.

“With summer travel underway and Los Angeles County welcoming large gatherings and international visitors during World Cup events, the risk of exposure to infectious diseases may increase,” said Dr. Muntu Davis, the L.A. County health officer. “We urge everyone to confirm their immunity and get the [measles, mumps and rubella] vaccine if needed, especially before traveling and attending crowded events.”