College students in Los Angeles will now be quarantined if they cannot prove they have received the measles vaccine after being exposed to a confirmed case of the viral infection.
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health announced a partnership on Thursday with the University of California, Los Angeles, and California State University Los Angeles.
“In this situation, for those exposed to a confirmed case of measles who could not provide evidence of two doses of measles immunizations or lab verified immunity to measles, a Health Officer Order for quarantine is being issued,” the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health said in a statement. “Generally, a Health Officer Order (‘Order’) mandates the exposed person to remain at their residence, to notify Public Health if they develop symptoms of measles, and to avoid contact with others until the end of their quarantine period or until they provide evidence of immunity.”
The quarantine for measles, which is highly contagious, can last up to 21 days.
“It can stay in the air for up to two hours after a sick person coughs or sneezes and can also stay on surfaces for many hours. About 90% of people who are exposed and not immune to measles become ill 7-21 days after exposure,” the department said.
The Los Angeles Times reports 38 people had been infected with measles so far for 2019 in the city, with the number expected to rise. There are currently 695 cases of measles in 22 states across the country, with many of the cases in New York City, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported. The agency had declared the disease eliminated in the U.S. in 2000.
