A child who arrived at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on a flight from South Korea has been diagnosed with measles, prompting a health advisory from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.
The case comes as public health authorities remain on high alert amid rising measles cases in Texas, New Mexico, and other states.
According to a press release issued by the department on February 25, the child was a passenger on Korean Air flight KAL11/KE11, which arrived at LAX from Incheon International Airport on February 19. The child is reportedly a resident of Orange County.
The public health department has warned that passengers at the Tom Bradley International Terminal at LAX between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. on February 19 may have been exposed to the measles virus.
Authorities urged caution, advising those at the airport during that time to monitor for symptoms.
The department also stated that it would work with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to notify passengers on the Korean Air flight who may have been exposed.
The public health department added that if no measles symptoms appear by March 11 in those who were on the flight or at the airport, they can consider themselves safe.
In response, Korean Air’s Los Angeles branch stated on February 26 that it remains in close communication with relevant authorities and will fully cooperate with health and regulatory agencies.
Measles typically affects children between the ages of 1 and 6, especially in the spring. The virus spreads through coughing or direct contact. Symptoms usually appear 7 to 21 days after exposure.
The main symptoms of measles include a fever over 101°F, a runny nose, conjunctivitis, a red rash, and white spots inside the mouth. A rash also develops on the body.
In addition to Texas and New Mexico, measles cases have been reported in Alaska, Georgia, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island.
On February 26, the Texas Department of Health announced that a school-aged child in Lubbock, in the southern part of the state, was hospitalized with measles symptoms and recently died. This marks the first measles-related death in the U.S. since 2015.
Most measles patients have reportedly not received the vaccine. Health authorities emphasize that measles is preventable through vaccination, significantly reducing the risk of outbreaks.
They also stressed the importance of avoiding contact with others and notifying schools or workplaces if symptoms appear to prevent further spread.
BY HYOUNGJAE KIM [kim.ian@koreadaily.com]
