Another measles case reported at LAX

LOS ANGELES (FOX11) - The LA County Department of Public Health has confirmed another measles case.

The latest traveled through the Los Angeles International Airport late last month. The department is working with LAX and the airline to try to identify those at risk for measles and those who may have been exposed to the person.

Public Health says you could have been exposed to this person with measles if you were at Terminal 4, Gate 48B on Sunday, May 26th, between 9:30 am and 12:30 pm or at the Tom Bradley International Terminal on Tuesday, May 28th between 3:30 and 5:30 pm.

Officials say there is no known current risk related to measles that exists at LAX.

But if you were exposed to the traveler with measles on May 26th or 28th, you are at risk of developing measles for up to 21 days after exposure. If you think you may be at risk, you should monitor yourself for illness with a fever or unexplained rash and notify a health care provider if you're unimmunized, pregnant, have a weakened immune system or if your infant was exposed.

So far this year, LA County has had 15 measles cases. Seven cases were visitors and eight were residents.

Five of the residents are linked to the other resident cases and two are linked to international travel. The majority of the people were unvaccinated.

Measles is a highly contagious and potentially severe disease that spreads by air and direct contact and initially causes fever, cough, red, watery eyes and then a rash.

"It's painful. I remember having it when I was little, and it wasn't easy. It's itchy and it's not a good thing," says Mercy Miatah while picking up a friend at the airport.

LA is likely to have more measles cases, especially related to returning international travelers who are not immunised. Public Health urges people, especially those traveling internationally to get the measles vaccination to protect themselves and from spreading it to others. The vaccine protects against three diseases - measles, mumps and rubella.