Louisiana Measles Case
- Louisiana confirmed a measles case in a partially vaccinated child after recent international travel. (fox8live.com) - Officials say the patient was isolated at a hospital and public exposures occurred at two Kenner stores on April 17. (fox8live.com) - The state issued exposure notices to alert shoppers and prompt vaccination checks for contacts. (fox8live.com)
Louisiana health officials confirmed the state’s first measles case of 2026 in a child from the New Orleans area after international travel. (ldh.la.gov) The Louisiana Department of Health said the patient lives in Region 1, which includes Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines and St. Bernard parishes, and is in isolation at a Region 1 hospital. The agency said the child was partially vaccinated. (ldh.la.gov) Officials traced two public exposure sites in Kenner to Friday, April 17: the Target at 1401 West Esplanade Ave. and the Walmart Supercenter at 300 West Esplanade Ave. The state issued notices to people who were at those stores that day to review their vaccination status and watch for symptoms. (ldh.la.gov) Measles spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes, and the virus can linger in a room for up to two hours after that person leaves. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says it is one of the most contagious infectious diseases. (cdc.gov) The first symptoms usually look like a bad cold with fever, cough, runny nose and red eyes, followed by a rash that starts on the face and spreads downward. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says symptoms typically appear seven to 14 days after exposure, though they can take as long as 21 days. (cdc.gov) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine for children, with the first dose at 12 to 15 months and the second at 4 to 6 years. The agency says one dose is about 93% effective against measles and two doses are about 97% effective. (cdc.gov) Louisiana had three measles cases in 2025, according to the state health department, and this is the first reported case in 2026. Nationally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said 800 measles cases had been reported this year as of the local coverage published April 23. (ldh.la.gov, wwltv.com) The Louisiana Department of Health said people exposed on April 17 should contact a health care provider before showing up in person if they develop symptoms. The state is using the Kenner alerts to find contacts early and limit any further spread from this case. (ldh.la.gov)
