Los Angeles County has logged its fifth measles case of the year, and this one is tied to an international traveler who passed through Los Angeles International Airport, health officials said Saturday. The person moved through Tom Bradley International Terminal B after arriving on Alaska Airlines Flight 1354, and anyone in that terminal during a roughly two-hour period may have been exposed, according to county officials. Public health teams are working with federal partners to track down close contacts and are urging residents to double-check their vaccine records and keep an eye out for symptoms.
County statement and vaccine reminder
L.A. County Health Officer Dr. Muntu Davis used the latest case as a reminder that this is not the moment to let vaccine protection slide. “As measles cases increase, it is important that residents take steps to make sure they are fully protected,” he said in a statement, stressing that the MMR vaccine remains the strongest shield against infection. The county added that it will work with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to notify passengers who were seated near the infected traveler on Flight 1354, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Where exposure may have occurred
Health officials pinpointed the potential exposure window to the morning the traveler arrived at LAX. Anyone who was in Tom Bradley International Terminal B between 6 a.m. and 8 a.m., while the passenger from Alaska Airlines Flight 1354 was moving through, is being urged to confirm they are protected against measles. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has also flagged the situation to local health departments and said it will directly notify passengers who were sitting near the infected traveler on the flight, as reported by CBS Los Angeles.
Symptoms and monitoring timeline
People exposed to measles are at risk of becoming ill seven to 21 days after contact. Early warning signs can look a lot like a bad cold: fever, cough, red and watery eyes, followed by a spreading rash. County officials say that anyone who may have been exposed in this incident and does not develop symptoms for more than 21 days is no longer considered at risk, which in this case means after June 4, 2026, according to NBC Los Angeles. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cautions people who suspect they might have measles to call their healthcare provider before showing up in person, to avoid exposing others, and notes that two doses of the MMR vaccine are highly effective at preventing infection, per CDC guidance.
Statewide and national surge
The LAX-linked case is arriving in the middle of a broader surge in measles activity. Nationwide, the CDC has reported 1,814 confirmed measles cases as of April 30, 2026, and California has recorded 48 cases so far this year. Public health officials say lower vaccination rates and international travel are feeding recent outbreaks, which have pushed L.A. County to lean heavily on rapid contact tracing at major travel hubs such as LAX, according to the CDC.
