Los Angeles County health officials on Saturday issued an exposure alert after a tourist infected with measles visited Universal Studios and several other locations in the county between March 30 and April 1. uttered.
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health said in a news release that it received notification from the California Department of Public Health of a nonresident traveler who visited nearly a dozen locations during the three-day period, primarily Universal City and Sheraton hotels. did. West Century Boulevard near Los Angeles International Airport.
According to health officials, this person visited the following locations:
Saturday, March 30th:
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Sheraton Gateway Hotel Gym — 6101 W. Century Blvd., Los Angeles 90045 (5:30 a.m. – 8 a.m.)
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Denny’s – 5535 W. Century Blvd., Los Angeles 90045 (Hours TBA)
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Universal Studios – 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City 91608
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Buca di Beppo – 1000 Universal Studios Blvd., Universal City 91608 (approximately 12 p.m.)
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Cletus' Chicken Shack at Universal Studios — 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City 91608 (approximately 4 p.m.)
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Universal Studios Lard Lad Donuts and EC Food Truck — 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City 91608 (hours TBA)
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Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams — 445 N. Beverly Drive, Beverly Hills 90210 (hours TBA)
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Sheraton Gateway Hotel — 6101 W. Century Blvd., Los Angeles 90045
Sunday March 31st:
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Sheraton Gateway Hotel Gym — 6101 W. Century Blvd., Los Angeles 90045 (5:30 a.m. – 8 a.m.)
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Jack in the Box — 1127 W. Manchester Blvd., Inglewood 90301 (around 11 a.m.)
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Santa Monica Pier — Santa Monica 90401
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Pier Gear — 380 Santa Monica Pier #1, Santa Monica 90401 (hours not yet determined)
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El Torito Mexican Restaurant — 13715 Fiji Way, Marina Del Rey 90292 (6pm – 8pm)
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Sheraton Gateway Hotel — 6101 W. Century Blvd., Los Angeles 90045
Monday, April 1st:
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Sheraton Gateway Hotel — 6101 W. Century Blvd., Los Angeles 90045
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Denny’s – 5535 W. Century Blvd., Los Angeles 90045 (Hours TBA)
Additional possible exposure locations are still being investigated.
Health officials encouraged anyone who was at any of the exposure sites that day to check whether they have been vaccinated against measles. Measles is a highly contagious disease that causes a rash and other serious symptoms that can be life-threatening for certain people. If a person is not vaccinated and has never had measles before, he or she is at risk of developing symptoms within 1 to 3 weeks after being exposed to measles.
“Measles can spread through the air and through direct contact and cause serious illness even before you know you are infected,” Los Angeles County Health Officer Muntu Davis said in a news release. added, “It is highly contagious for those who are infected.” There is no immunity to it. ”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, young children, pregnant women, and immunocompromised people are at higher risk of complications from measles.
read more: Hundreds of people exposed to measles at California hospital, authorities say
Los Angeles health officials said infected people should contact their health care provider and anyone who develops symptoms should “stay home and avoid school, work, and large gatherings.”
Public health experts are concerned because the CDC has recorded 121 measles cases so far this year, a significant increase compared to the number of infections in 2023. In 2024, 82% of cases were unvaccinated or patients with unknown vaccination status, and 56% of cases resulted in hospitalization.
California, which has the nation's strictest school vaccination laws, recorded six cases in 2024. Up to 300 people were infected at UC Davis Medical Center this month after a child with the virus was seen at a Sacramento hospital.
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This story originally appeared in the Los Angeles Times.
