Los Angeles faces a new public health concern with the confirmation of a measles case in a resident who traveled through Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) while infectious. The individual arrived on Turkish Airlines flight 009 at Tom Bradley International Terminal B, Gate 157, on January 25, at 5 p.m. Public Health is alerting those who were at the airport's Terminal B between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. on that date as they may be at risk of measles exposure, according to County of Los Angeles Public Health.
The infectious traveler also visited Chick-Fil-A at 18521 Devonshire St., Northridge, CA, between 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. on the same day, prompting health officials to warn anyone who was present during those hours of a potential risk. Unimmunized individuals, or those uncertain about their immunization status who were at these sites, are at risk of developing measles from seven to 21 days after exposure. Los Angeles County Health Officer, Dr. Muntu Davis stated, "Measles is highly contagious for those who are not immune to it, initially causing fever, cough, red, watery eyes, and followed by a rash, it can result in serious complications for young children and vulnerable adults," as reported by the County of Los Angeles Public Health.
Public Health, in coordination with the Centers for Disease Control, has begun notifying passengers assigned to specific seats on Turkish Airlines flight 009, outlining potential exposure risks. With measles known for its ease of spread through air and contact, the department encourages LA residents to check their vaccination status. They stress that unvaccinated individuals are at risk of contracting measles if exposed to the virus.
The department also provided reassurance that most health insurances cover the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) and MMRV (measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella) vaccines. For those uninsured or underinsured, free or low-cost vaccines are accessible through the Vaccines for Children (VFC) and Vaccines for Adults (VFA) program. After a significant measles outbreak in 2019 and a smaller number of cases in 2020, this is the first reported case in Los Angeles County in 2024, underscoring the ongoing importance of maintaining high vaccination rates in the community.
