County health officials have added six new cases to the area’s recent measles outbreak, bringing the number of children confirmed to have the infectious disease to 12 as of Tuesday, Feb. 19, and exposing more people in more locations than previously thought. They also found two new possible cases not linked to the original.
Last week, a measles outbreak began in La Jolla with a child who had traveled abroad. Health officials said they haven’t seen such an onslaught of the disease for 17 years.
“We have not seen an outbreak of this magnitude since 1991,” said Jose A. Alvarez, public affairs official at the city’s Health and Human Services agency, adding that the agency has contacted parents of the children believed to be at risk and quarantined some exposures. “This is one of the most contagious diseases.”
While Health and Human Services awaits results on an additional two children doctors believe also have the virus, officials for the agency are warning the public about three new locations the infected children visited. The Del Mar Fair Grounds and the Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods Market in Hillcrest were exposed on specific days during specific times. But public health officials said the virus is only active for a short window of time and only affects people who haven’t been vaccinated ” usually children under 12 months and people born before 1957.
“It is extremely important that people, particularly children, who were at the Cirque du Soleil performances or visited the stores on these dates and times are aware that they may have been exposed to measles,” said Wilma Wooten, M.D., M.P.H., County Public Health officer.
County health officials said one infected child attended a 4 p.m. Cirque du Soleil performance on Jan. 31, exposing people at both the 4 and 8 p.m. performances. Anyone who was in Hillcrest Jan. 29 at either Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s between 1 and 7 p.m. also may have come into contact with the virus, they said.
“I would also like to remind the public that the virus only lives for about two hours after it is released into the environment,” Wooten said. “There is no longer a risk of contracting measles at the Del Mar Fair Grounds, Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods Market because of this exposure.”
Other locations became contaminated last week.
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 Alvarez, this outbreak began at the Children’s Clinic in Bird Rock. Authorities have followed the initial case “” a 7-year-old who traveled to Switzerland and received care at the clinic “” to these latest cases, including one through San Diego’s airport to Hawaii.
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.
Those born before 1957 were probably exposed or have had the measles, while children younger than age 1 have not yet 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 ” 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 ” 250 people exposed.
“¢ Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods Market Hillcrest, Jan. 29, 1-5 p.m.
“¢ Del Mar Fair Grounds Cirque du Soleil, Jan. 31, 4 and 8 p.m. shows.
For information about vaccinations and the measles, visit Rady Children’s Hospital, San Diego, www.rchsd.org.