By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is investigating an additional confirmed case of measles in a Los Angeles County resident. This case is linked to four cases reported earlier this month, which together account for a five- case outbreak involving a close social group.
Currently, there have been 15 measles cases among Los Angeles County residents in 2019, in addition to eight non-resident measles cases that traveled through Los Angeles County. The majority of cases to date were unvaccinated. This outbreak is not connected to outbreak that occurred in April.
As of July 17, 2019, 60 confirmed measles cases, including 37 outbreak-associated cases (4 completed outbreaks, 33 cases; 1 ongoing outbreak, 4 cases), have been reported in California.
Nationally, 1,123 individual cases of measles have been confirmed in 28 states through July 11. This is the greatest number of cases reported in the U.S. since 1992 and since measles was declared eliminated in 2000.
Measles is considered among the most contagious viruses in the world. About 90% of people who have never been immunized against measles become ill 7-21 days after exposure. Infected people can infect those around them before they have symptoms and know they are infected. Common symptoms of measles include fever, cough, runny nose, conjunctivitis (red eyes) and a rash which usually appears 10 to 21 days after the exposure. The measles virus can be transmitted from one person to another up to 4 days before the onset of rash.
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