By Jorge Casuso
January 14, 2019 -- County health officials this weekend warned that visitors to the Santa Monica Pier and Blue Plate Taco restaurant may have been exposed to measles late last month.
Los Angeles County health officials confirmed that the infectious individual visited the Pier and the restaurant at 1550 Ocean Avenue on December 26 between 1:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.
The same individual also visited locations in Malibu and Pasadena between December 26 and 29.
People who may have been near the infected individual “may be at risk of developing measles and should watch for symptoms of the illness,” according to a statement from the L.A. County Department of Public Health.
That is especially the case for those with weakened immune systems or those who have not been immunized against measles, officials said.
However, the locations the person visited are safe because measles spreads when the sick person coughs or sneezes around others, health officials said.
Common symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, conjunctivitis (red eyes) and a rash which usually appears 10 to 12 days after the exposure.
“If you think that you or someone you know has been exposed to or has measles, contact your healthcare provider by phone right before going in,” L.A. County health officer Dr. Muntu Davis said in the statement.
“Getting immunized is the best way to keep from getting and spreading measles,” she said.
Those unsure they are immunized should consult a doctor "to have a test to check for measles immunity or to receive vaccination," health officials said.
"If you are ill, you should first contact your health care provider by phone so that measures can be taken to prevent spread in the doctor’s offices."
The last major measles outbreak in L.A. County was in 2017, officials said.
