Measles Warning: Recent Exposure at Disneyland, LAX, and Woodland Hills
Los Angeles Reports Second Measles Case of 2026
LOS ANGELES – Public health officials announced on Saturday that Los Angeles County has recorded its second case of measles this year. The infected individual, an international traveler, visited several high-traffic locations while contagious, potentially exposing many residents and tourists.
The traveler arrived at Tom Bradley International Airport (LAX) on Viva Aerobus Flight 518 on January 26. Health officials have identified several specific exposure windows at various locations:
- LAX Terminal B: January 26 (10:45 p.m.) to January 27 (1 a.m.)
- Disneyland Resort: January 28, including Goofy’s Kitchen (10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.), Disneyland Park, and Disney California Adventure (12:30 p.m. to closing)
- Dunkin’ Donuts in Woodland Hills: January 30 (3 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.)
Dr. Muntu Davis, LA County Health Officer, emphasized the seriousness of measles, describing it as a highly contagious respiratory disease that can spread through the air and on surfaces, particularly among unprotected individuals. He noted that an infected person can transmit the virus for four days before exhibiting any symptoms, such as a rash.
In 2026, the U.S. has reported 588 confirmed measles cases, marking the highest total for January since the disease was declared eliminated in 2000. Most of these cases are linked to outbreaks in South Carolina, Arizona, and Utah.
Authorities are actively working to identify additional potential exposure sites within Los Angeles County. While the CDC is reaching out to passengers seated near the infected traveler on Flight 518, the total number of individuals exposed at Disneyland remains unclear due to its dense population.
Timeline of Events:
- January 26: Patient arrives at LAX
- January 28: Patient visits Disneyland Resort
- January 30: Patient stops at Dunkin’ Donuts
- January 31: Health departments confirm the infection
- February 16: Monitoring deadline for LAX exposure
- February 18: Monitoring deadline for Disneyland exposure
- February 20: Final monitoring deadline for Dunkin’ Donuts exposure
Public health officials are urging individuals who visited the identified exposure sites to take precautions. They recommend checking vaccination status for the MMR (Measles, Mumps, and Rubella) vaccine, monitoring for symptoms like fever and rash, and consulting a healthcare provider if symptoms develop or if exposure occurred within the past week.
