A case of measles in Long Beach was confirmed this week as being associated with a recent outbreak affecting multiple counties in California and Utah, according to Dr. Mitchell Kushner, Long Beach city health officer.
The Long Beach resident who contracted measles had spent time at the Disneyland resort in Anaheim from Dec. 16—20, 2014.
Measles is a highly infectious, airborne disease, according to the Long Beach Health Department, which is working with the neighboring health jurisdictions of Orange and Los Angeles counties to contact people who may have been exposed to the Long Beach case. Health Department staff have also notified locations in Long Beach where the individual with measles visited while infectious. Persons who were at the following locations in Long Beach on Saturday, Jan. 3 between 9am and 11:30am may have been exposed:
• Total Wellness Club, 6447 E. Spring St.
• Stater Brothers, 6501 E. Spring St.
• Bank of America, 6351 E. Spring St.
• Wells Fargo, 6402 E. Spring St.
The Health Department recommends to those who were at any of the above locations during the noted date and time do the following:
• Check vaccination records for self and family for two MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccinations. If only one or no MMR is documented, talk with a health care provider about receiving the MMR vaccination. All persons born before 1957 and persons with previously diagnosed measles are considered immune.
• Monitor self for symptoms including fever and rash through Jan. 24; if symptoms develop, stay home and call a health care provider immediately.
Measles is a highly contagious and potentially severe disease that causes fever, rash, cough and red, watery eyes. Measles spreads very easily by air and by direct contact with an infected person. It is contagious from approximately four days before the rash appears through four days after the rash appears. Anyone suspected of having measles should call their medical provider before arriving at the medical office to avoid exposing others to the measles virus, according to the Health Department.
Source: LB Health Dept.
