A family took their 11-month-old child on a flight to Hawaii through San Diego’s Lindbergh Field. Upon arrival in Hawaii, health officials say the child developed a rash and was taken to a military base, where authorities confirmed the infant had measles.
According to José A. Alvarez, spokesman for San Diego County’s Health and Human Services Agency, this is the latest case in a recent outbreak that began at the Children’s Clinic in Bird Rock. Authorities have followed the initial case “” a 7-year-old that traveled to Switzerland and received care at the clinic “” to this latest case through San Diego’s airport.
In all, Alvarez said there are five confirmed cases of measles and five potential cases. Six are from a Linda Vista charter school, and the other four were diagnosed at from the Children’s Clinic.
Of the cases in La Jolla, Alvarez said one has been confirmed and three are still pending, but all are connected to the initial case, which dates to Jan. 25.
Once the cases were confirmed, authorities followed the trail, Alvarez said. The first case exposed 13 patients at the clinic. Officials then found a charter school was exposed, amid 36 at-risk cases “” persons who may or may not be immunized. At a different La Jolla doctor’s office, 60 people were potentially exposed, Alvarez said. A child with measles then visited the Baldwin Academy, exposing another 21 children. A swim school was potentially exposed, leaving 58 people wondering if they will contract the virus, Alvarez said.
Health officials in Hawaii and San Diego continue to notify the public, especially anyone who may have come into contact with Hawaiian Airlines Flight No. 15. According to Alvarez, that flight exposed about 250 people. Officials are asking anyone near Lindbergh Field, terminal 2, gate 41 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 9 to watch for signs of exposure.
“We have not seen an outbreak of this magnitude since 1991,” Alvarez said, adding that Health and Human Services has contacted parents of the children believed to be exposed, and quarantined some exposures. “This is one of the most contagious diseases.”
Those born before 1957 were probably exposed or have had the measles. And children younger than 1 year of age have not received a vaccination. According to Alvarez, California is an opt-out state, meaning parents have the option not to vaccinate their child.
Meanwhile, health officials are asking for people to watch for symptoms resembling the flu, including a high fever (103 to 104 degrees), cough, runny nose or watery eyes. In one to two weeks, a rash will appear. The infected person is highly contagious from four days before the rash appears to four days afterward.
According to Health and Human Services, possible places of exposure include:
“¢ Children’s Clinic, Bird Rock “13 patients exposed Jan. 25, resulting in the five pending cases. These patients are believed to have gone to a doctor’s office from Feb. 5 to 8, exposing 60 additional people.
“¢ Alcott Elementary School Infant & Toddler Development Program, University City ” 36 people exposed.
“¢ School of the Madeleine, Bay Park ” Feb. 6, an infected child visited the school; 66 potential exposures.
“¢ Baldwin Academy Daycare, Pacific Beach ” 21 potential exposures.
“¢ Murray Callan Swim School, Pacific Beach ” 16 at-risk kids, 58 exposed.
“¢ Lindbergh Field, Feb. 9, Hawaiian Airlines Flight 15, terminal 2, gate 41 ” 220 people exposed.
For more information, visit Rady Children’s Hospital, San Diego, www.rchsd.org.