Measles Found by LA County Dept of Health at Two Santa Monica Locations

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) is investigating an additional confirmed case of measles in a Los Angeles County resident. The possible exposures occurred in Culver City at the Arclight Theaters or at the AR Cucina Restaurant both in downtown Culver City.

In Santa Monica, possible exposure occurred at a commercial building at 3201 Wilshire Boulevard or at the Erewhon Market.

Measles is considered among the most contagious viruses in the world. About 90% of people who have never been immunized against measles become ill 7-21 days after exposure.

Public Health is looking to identify others who are at risk for measles. Public Health urges residents, especially those who travel internationally and those who have not been fully protected against measles, to get the measles immunization in order to better protect their individual health and to prevent the spread of measles to others.

Other people may have been exposed to measles since public locations were visited by the person with measles while infectious. The potential public exposure locations, days and times were as follows:

The dates, times and locations are as follows:

October 7, 2019, 11:35 a.m. to 3:40 p.m. Commercial building

3201 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90403

October 7, 2019, 3:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Erewhon Market

2800 Wilshire Blvd. Santa Monica, CA 90403

October 4, 2019, 5:45 p.m. to 9:15 p.m. Commercial building

3756 Santa Rosalia Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90008

October 5, 2019, 5:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Culver City Arclight Cinemas

9500 Culver Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232

October 5, 2019, 7:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. AR Cucina Restaurant

9531 Culver Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232

Anyone who may have been at these locations on these dates during these timeframes may be at risk of developing measles for up to 21 days after being exposed and should:

• Review their immunization and medical records to determine if they are protected against measles. People who have not had measles infection previously or received the measles immunization may not be immune and should talk with a health care provider about receiving measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) immunization.

• Contact and notify their health care provider as soon as possible about a potential exposure if they are pregnant, an infant, have a weakened immune system and/or are unimmunized.

• Monitor themselves for illness with fever and/or an unexplained rash from 7 days to 21 days after their exposure (the time period when symptoms may develop); if symptoms develop, stay at home and call a healthcare provider immediately.

Currently, there have been 18 measles cases among Los Angeles County residents in 2019, in addition to 11 non-resident measles cases that traveled through Los Angeles County (excluding Long Beach and Pasadena as cases identified in those cities are reported by their local health departments). The majority of cases to date were unimmunized or did not know whether they had ever been immunized.

"For those who are not protected, measles is a highly contagious and potentially severe disease that initially causes fever, cough, red, watery eyes, and, finally, a rash," said Muntu Davis, MD, MPH, Los Angeles County Health Officer. "Measles is spread by air and by direct contact even before you know have it. The MMR immunization is a very effective measure to protect yourself and to prevent the unintentional spread of this potentially serious infection to others."