Officials in Orange County, California, have warned that a woman with measles may have exposed others to the contagious disease while watching Avengers: Endgame at a cinema on its opening night.
The unnamed woman, who is in her 20s and lives in the city of Placentia, had contracted the illness while travelling aboard to a country with outbreak.
She was apparently unaware she was ill when she went along to the midnight premiere of the latest Marvel flick.
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The Los Angeles Times reports that cinemagoers watching the film at the AMC movie theatre on Lemon Street in Fullerton may have been exposed to the illness.
"Measles is a highly contagious and potentially severe disease that causes fever, rash, cough and red, watery eyes," said Orange County interim health officer Dr. Nichole Quick in a statement.
"The MMR vaccine is a simple, inexpensive and very effective measure to prevent the spread of this serious virus."
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Officials say people who were at the following locations should review their vaccination history and also monitor themselves for measles symptoms:
- 5 Hutton Centre Drive, Santa Ana, between 7.45am and 7.15pm on 23, 24 and 25 April
- AMC movie theatre, 1001 S. Lemon St., Fullerton, between 11pm on 25 April and 4am on 26 April
- St. Jude Medical Center emergency department, 101 E. Valencia Mesa Drive, Fullerton, between 7am and 9am on 27 April
According to the NHS website, measles is a highly infectious viral illness, which can lead to 'serious complications'.
While it is most common in young children, anyone can get measles if they have not been vaccinated.
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Symptoms include 'cold-like symptoms', such as a runny nose, sneezing and a cough, as well as sore, red eyes that may be sensitive to light, a high temperature (fever) that may reach around 40C (104F) and small, greyish-white spots on the inside of the cheeks.
A few days after developing measles, a red-brown blotchy rash will appear. It usually starts on the head or upper neck before spreading outwards to the rest of the body.
The infection then usually clears in around seven to 10 days.
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It is uncommon in many countries thanks to the effectiveness of vaccination.
However, according to CNN, cases in the United States are the highest on record since 'the disease was declared eliminated nationwide in 2000'.
Fox News reports the country has seen 704 cases across 22 states so far this year.
It is thought that outbreaks have hit communities with low vaccination rate, with almost all cases having come from people who travelled to countries where measles is prevalent.
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In California, 14 of 38 people with measles this year became sick while visiting other countries including India, Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia and the Ukraine, according to state health officials.
Four of those people infected 22 other people in the state, most of whom weren't vaccinated, they added.
Featured Image Credit: PA/Marvel
Topics: News, Avengers, US News, Health