More than 300 quarantined amid fears against measles at Los Angeles universities | American News



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More than 300 students and faculty from two Los Angeles universities were quarantined after being exposed to measles and not being able to confirm that they had been vaccinated or that they had immunity.

The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), said that as of Wednesday, there were 119 students and eight faculty members in quarantine. More than 500 students, faculty, and staff may have been exposed to the virus when a student who was diagnosed with the virus attended clbades in early April. The quarantined individuals have not shown that they are immune.

Seventy-one students and 127 staff members, meanwhile, are quarantined at the State University of California, Los Angeles after a possible exposure to a campus library, officials of the University of California. school said.

"The Ministry of Public Health determined that there was no known current risk of measles in the library at the moment," Cal State said in a statement.

UCLA says some people could stay in quarantines for up to 48 hours before they prove immunity. Some may need to stay in quarantine for seven days.

"We have arranged for those living on campus to be taken care of at UCLA during their forties," said UCLA Chancellor Gene Block in a statement. "Please be badured that we have the necessary resources for prevention and treatment, and that we are working closely with local public health officials on the issue. "

Quarantine comes as the number of measles cases in the United States has reached its highest level in 25 years, even though it was totally eliminated from the country in 2000. Colleges and universities are a topic of concern for public health officials, Los Angeles Times. reported, because the current generation of students were babies when Andrew Wakefield, the disgraced former British doctor, began to spread the misconception that vaccines were linked to autism.

The so-called "Wakefield generation" has lower vaccination rates than other age groups, the Times reported.

A Small measles outbreak occurs in Los Angeles involving five confirmed cases related to travel abroad.

Public health officials said the number of measles cases was on the rise in California this year and the increase was largely due to travel abroad.

Dr. Karen Smith, director of the California Department of Public Health, said the state recorded 38 cases of measles on Thursday, up from 11 at the same time last year.

She says that the state usually sees fewer than two dozen cases a year.

This year, California cases extend into 11 counties and affect patients from five months to 55 years of age.

She says that more than 76% of patients have not been vaccinated or have not received the two recommended doses of vaccine.

Fourteen of those infected had traveled abroad, including the Philippines, Thailand, India and Ukraine.

Symptoms of measles include high fever, cough and rash.

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