TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health confirmed on Tuesday (March 11) local time the first measles case of the year in the county, involving a resident who recently arrived from Taiwan at Los Angeles International Airport.
A measles outbreak, the most severe in the U.S. in 30 years, has spread from Texas to 12 states, prompting health alerts. ABC News reported that the patient, who arrived on March 5 on China Airlines flight CAL8/CI8, posed a risk to fellow travelers and others present at the airport's international terminal between 7 p.m. and 10:40 p.m.
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health emphasized the importance of vaccination amid the outbreak, which has also seen cases in Fresno County and Orange County, where an infant contracted the virus in February after traveling through Los Angeles International Airport.
Health officials are urging vaccinations as a critical measure to curb the outbreak's spread, as symptoms typically appear one to two weeks post-exposure, resembling other respiratory illnesses. The situation underscores the ongoing need for vigilance and public health readiness in addressing contagious diseases.