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The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LACDPH) announced yesterday that it is investigating a new confirmed case of measles in an individual who recently returned from international travel.
This case, the second reported in the county as of February 1, 2026, involves a traveler who was infectious while passing through Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and visiting at least one other public location.
LACDPH officials are warning that anyone present in Terminal B from 10:45 p.m. on January 26 to 1 a.m. on January 27 may have been exposed to the highly contagious virus.
In collaboration with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), local health departments are notifying passengers seated near the traveler on the international flight. An additional potential exposure site at Dunkin' Donuts, 22020 Ventura Blvd., Woodland Hills, CA 91364, on January 30, 2026, from 3 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.
California has reported several cases so far in 2026, including this one in Los Angeles County and related exposures in neighboring Orange County, where the traveler also visited popular locations such as Disneyland.
"Measles is a serious respiratory disease that spreads easily through the air and on surfaces, particularly among people who are not already protected against it," said Muntu Davis, MD, MPH, Los Angeles County Health Officer, in a recent press release.
"A person can spread the illness to others before symptoms appear, and it can take 7 to 21 days for symptoms to show up after exposure. Measles can lead to severe disease in young children and vulnerable adults."
"As LA County residents begin to travel this summer, and with measles cases increasing among those who have traveled recently, we remind everyone that the best way to protect yourself and your family from infection is through the highly effective measles vaccine."
LACDPH says anyone who believes they may have been exposed should consult a healthcare provider promptly and inform them of their potential exposure before any in-person visit to avoid further spread in medical settings.
These LAX cases come amid a significant national rise in measles cases.
As of late January 2026, the CDC reported 588 confirmed cases in the United States, marking the highest January total since the country declared measles eliminated in 2000. Current outbreaks have been identified in South Carolina and Utah.
In 2025, the U.S. recorded 2,242 cases, one of the highest annual totals in decades.
As of February 2026, the CDC continues publishing a global measles outbreak Travel Health Notice, alerting international travelers to this health risk. To locate a travel vaccine clinic, visit Vax-Before-Travel.com.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has classified the 2025-2026 influenza season as moderate severity across all age groups.
However, seasonal influenza activity remains elevated nationwide and increased last week after three weeks of decline.
And Influenza A activity has remained stable, while influenza B activity has increased.
As of January 30, 2026, the CDC's FluView reported #3 stated that at this point in the flu season, the pediatric age group is classified as having high severity, while both the adult and older adult age groups are classified as having moderate severity.
Furthermore, the CDC confirmed eight additional influenza-associated pediatric deaths this week, bringing the total for the 2025-2026 season to 52.
Among children who were eligible for influenza vaccination and with known vaccine status, approximately 90% of reported pediatric deaths this season have occurred in children who were not fully vaccinated against influenza.
The CDC and healthcare providers throughout the USA encourage all children to be protected from influenza by accessing flu shots when recommended.
Despite the United Kingdom (UK) maintaining high vaccination coverage and remaining polio-free for decades, recent detections of poliovirus in wastewater have emerged as a significant early warning signal.
As of January 28, 2026, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) reported the detection of a circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) in an environmental sample in the UK.
This finding was part of routine wastewater surveillance conducted by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and is part of ongoing efforts to monitor for poliovirus in sewage systems.
This recent detection aligns with a pattern of similar findings in the UK. Previous cVDPV2 detections in the UK during 2025 and late 2024 were linked to specific sites, for example:
A single sample from Shoreham STW on January 20, 2025 (with follow-up negative).
Other 2025 instances in regions such as Yorkshire and the Humber (September 2025 sample).
Detections in late 2024 from East Worthing STW (covering parts of West Sussex), Leeds Knostrop STW, and London Beckton/Crossness STWs.
In June 2022, UKHSA announced that environmental surveillance for polio had consistently detected poliovirus in sewage samples collected from the Beckton Sewage Treatment Works in London.
Additional cases were noted in sources like the GPEI's weekly updates and UKHSA reports.
The strain involved in the recent UK detections has often been genetically linked to broader international clusters. In late 2024 and into 2025, a specific genetic cluster of cVDPV2—originating from lineages first observed in Nigeria—was detected in wastewater across multiple European countries, including the UK.
These detections underscored the risk of importation and silent circulation in under-vaccinated areas, prompting calls from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
As of January 30, 2026, the CDC's Level 2 - Practice Enhanced Precautions, Travel Health Notice lists 32 countries, including the UK. The CDC advises speaking with a travel vaccine advisor about immunization options before visiting countries at high risk for poliovirus.
CDC health experts say that as long as the poliovirus circulates anywhere, the risk of importation persists, even in polio-free regions.
Philadelphia health officials are raising concerns about a noticeable increase in chickenpox (varicella) cases among unvaccinated children in the city.
In early 2026, the Philadelphia Department of Public Health (PDPH) reported two separate outbreaks at two schools in eastern Pennsylvania.
On January 5, 2026, the PDPH issued a health advisory to clinicians and the public. The advisory emphasized the importance of recognizing, managing, controlling, and preventing varicella.
In November 2025, PDHP issued a similar health alert about chickenpox cases in schools.
This situation underscores ongoing worries about vaccine-preventable diseases in schools. Currently, the student population in Philadelphia exceeds 1.6 million from kindergarten through 12th grade.
Gayle Mendoza, a spokesperson for the PDPH, told the Inquirer on January 27, 2026, that she had no details on how many cases were reported among vaccinated versus unvaccinated children. It's also unclear which factors have contributed to the rise in chickenpox cases.
Although the current outbreaks are limited in scope, officials stress the necessity of maintaining high vaccination rates to prevent a wider spread of this once-common childhood illness.
During 2025, the U.S. CDC data indicates fewer than 150,000 cases reported annually in recent years. Hospitalizations were under 1,400, and deaths were around 30 or fewer.
Chickenpox can pose serious risks to vulnerable populations, including pregnant individuals, newborns, and those with weakened immune systems.
