People who visited Universal Studios Hollywood on Sunday, July 26, may have been exposed to measles after an infected visitor spent 11 hours at the park, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., the Los Angeles County Public Health Department said Wednesday.
The warning matters now because measles can spread through the air and linger on surfaces for hours, and county officials said people at the park that day could develop symptoms seven to 21 days after exposure. The last day to watch for signs is Aug. 16.
Muntu Davis said people should confirm their immunity and get the MMR vaccine if needed, especially before traveling and attending crowded events. “With summer travel underway, the risk of exposure to infectious diseases may increase,” he said, adding that the county urges people to make sure they are protected.
The alert comes as measles cases had doubled in California as of July compared with last year, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said 93% of confirmed cases are tied to outbreaks, with 34 new outbreaks reported so far this year. The virus can spread before a rash appears and after it appears, which is one reason a person can move through a crowded place without knowing they are putting others at risk.
Still, the advice is narrower than the threat. Most people who were at Universal Studios Hollywood that day are being told to monitor for symptoms unless they fall into a higher-risk group, including pregnant people, babies younger than 12 months, people with weakened immune systems and those who have not been immunized. Anyone who remains symptom-free beyond 21 days is no longer considered at risk, but for now the county’s message is to watch closely and act fast if fever, rash or other symptoms begin.
That leaves one unanswered point hanging over the warning: how many visitors may have been exposed. The county has not said, but the 11-hour window means the potential exposure was long enough to make the July 26 visit a concern far beyond the person who carried the virus into the park.
