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The order was issued to UCLA and Cal State LA for students and staff exposed to a confirmed case of measles and who can not prove that they were vaccinated against the highly contagious disease.
Those students and university employees, numbering more than 100, they were told to stay at home, to avoid contact with other people and to inform the public health authorities if they developed symptoms.
"Both universities are helping to implement quarantine orders and determine the best way to help students who need to be quarantined and live on campus," said the county's Department of Public Health. Los Angeles.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed Wednesday the event, saying the agency had counted 695 cases in 22 states this year.
Health officials in Los Angeles said measures taken at both universities were being implemented "to educate students, faculty, and staff about the risks of measles from potential exposure to measles."
"Quarantine for measles can last up to 21 days from the date of last exposure, at which point the exposed person is no longer at risk of developing the disease and transmitting measles to others. people, "the statement said.
Measles is a highly contagious disease caused by a virus that can spread in the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes or when someone comes into direct contact or shares germs by touching the same objects or surfaces. Symptoms of measles can include fever, cough, runny nose, watery eyes and a rash of red pimples.
Measles can stay in the air until two hours after a sick person coughs or sneezes and can stay on the work surfaces for many hours, making a campus particularly conducive to spreading the disease. disease due to the high number of people entering and leaving buildings.
In a letter to students and professors, UCLA Chancellor Gene Block said that the university had been informed on Monday that a student had contracted measles. The student attended classes at Franz Hall and Boelter Hall three days – April 2, 4, and 9 – while he was contagious, Block said.
"After learning about this incident, UCLA immediately identified and notified more than 500 students, faculty, and staff members with whom the student might have been in contact or who could have been exposed, moreover," said Block. "They also received detailed information on treatment and prevention."
Most people have been evacuated, the Chancellor added, "but we are still waiting for the medical records of 119 students and eight faculty members to determine if they are safe from measles."
"We expect the notified people will be quarantined for about 24 to 48 hours until their proof of immunity is established," Block said. "A few may need to stay in quarantine for up to seven days, and we have organized the care of those who live on campus at UCLA during their forties."
At Cal State, school officials said he may be exposed to measles at Library North on April 11, between 11am and 3pm.
Library employees, including students, "were sent home quarantined with orders to stay home and avoid contact with others as much as possible," said the university.
The university did not specify the number of people affected by quarantine.
"The Ministry of Public Health has determined that there is currently no known risk related to measles in the library," said the university.
At the same time, public health officials on Thursday urged Californians to make sure they were vaccinated against measles before traveling, especially to foreign countries.
The number of measles cases in California has more than doubled in the last week from 15 to 38, the California Department of Public Health said. There were 11 cases in total this time last year.
Of the 2019 cases, 14 involved international travelers, 22 passenger transmissions to California, and two cases from unknown sources, the agency said.
Health officials also said that a passenger who had flown from the Los Angeles International Airport on April 18 had been confirmed by a measles case, the fourth of its kind at the airport .
"Vaccination is the only way to prevent you and your family from contracting measles," said Dr. Karen Smith, director of the California Department of Public Health. "Many countries are currently experiencing an extensive measles activity.Make sure that you and your family are fully vaccinated before traveling abroad."
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