Measles outbreak in Southern California: Everything you need to know

LOS ANGELES -- Reported measles cases at locations across the Los Angeles area have residents on high alert, with an infected person visiting popular spots, including the Grove.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the United States now has the highest number of measles cases in a year since measles were eliminated in 2000, with more than 700 measles cases reported in 22 states this year. Of those, the CDC says more than 70% were unvaccinated.

Los Angeles public health officials declared a measles outbreak in the county, making it the latest metro area to be struck by the illness.

Find information on everything from where the cases have been reported to vaccination locations below.

Mapping the cases

LOS ANGELES COUNTY

• THE GROVE




• LAX


sixth confirmed measles case in L.A. County this year

three possible measles exposures in the past two months




• Long Beach


a person infected with measles went through the Long Beach Airport



list of locations where people may have been exposed to the viral disease


• UCLA






MORE: Measles outbreak - many of those susceptible to infection are college age


• CSULA













• Restaurants

ORANGE COUNTY

• A woman in her 20s, who is a resident of Placentia, reported recent travel to Vietnam, one of the many countries experiencing widespread measles activity. Officials say the woman is a rare case because she was fully vaccinated.
  
  The unidentified woman is considered infectious between the dates of April 23 and May 1. Authorities said the woman went to see "Avengers: Endgame" on April 25 at 11 p.m. at the AMC Movie Theater on Lemon Street in Fullerton.



• A baby under the age of 1 contracted measles in the second confirmed O.C. case.
  
  The child, who is too young to have been vaccinated, was hospitalized, the Orange County Health Care Agency said in a statement, adding that the infant has no history of international travel.
  
  The young patient was admitted to the emergency department at Children's Hospital of Orange County while infectious, the HCA said. According to the agency, others may have been exposed to measles in that area of the medical center.

Where to get vaccinated

In Los Angeles County, 14 public health clinics offer free vaccines for uninsured and under-insured individuals.

CSULA students can receive the vaccine from the Student Health Center or their healthcare provider. Faculty and staff who were not in university's Library North during the time the student who contracted measles was there are asked to contact their healthcare provider to receive the vaccine.

Students at UCLA who are unsure if they received the standard two-vaccine series are urged by the university to visit the Ashe Student Health & Wellness Center. Faculty and staff are asked to contact their medical provider.

Doctors say measles can wreak havoc in some people, with symptoms including a runny nose, red eyes, fever and a rash. That's why experts say it's so important to arm yourself with the right information.

Symptoms

Measles is highly contagious and can stay in the air for up to two hours after an ill person coughs or sneezes, and can stay on surfaces for several hours, health officials say. About 90 percent of people who are exposed and not immune to the illness become sick 7 to 21 days after exposure.

Measles symptoms include fever, dry cough, runny nose, sore throat and red, watery eyes. Three to five days after symptoms begin, the CDC says a rash breaks out which appears as flat red spots on the face at the hairline and spread downward to the neck, trunk, arms, legs and feet. Small raised bumps may also appear on top of the flat red spots.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health says schools are "high-risk setting for exposure due to potentially frequent and prolonged contact."

For more information on measles, go to publichealth.lacounty.gov.