Health officials have warned Universal Studios visitors to watch for measles symptoms over the next 10 days after confirming that an infected person spent hours at the park.
Authorities said the individual, who had measles and is believed to have been contagious at the time, was at the theme park for roughly 11 hours, raising concerns that other guests may have been exposed.
The Los Angeles County Public Health Department said the potential exposure took place from 10am until 9pm on Sunday, July 26. Anyone who visited Universal Studios during that window is now being urged to keep an eye out for symptoms.
This marks the ninth confirmed measles case in Los Angeles County in 2026, and reflects a troubling pattern of exposures at the region’s most heavily trafficked locations. Earlier this year, an infected international traveler who arrived at LAX subsequently visited Disneyland Resort while infectious, and other cases have been tied to major travel hubs including Hollywood Burbank Airport and LAX, as well as multiple restaurants in the county.
Muntu Davis, a county public health officer, said: “As measles cases increase, it is important that residents take steps to make sure they are fully protected.
“The MMR vaccine is the safest and most reliable way to prevent measles and protect yourself, your family, and your community.”
Davis added: “Measles spreads easily and can lead to serious complications, including pneumonia, brain swelling, and even death. With summer travel underway, the risk of exposure to infectious diseases may increase.
“We urge everyone to confirm their immunity and get the MMR vaccine if needed, especially before traveling and attending crowded events. Taking this simple step helps safeguard your health and strengthens protection for our entire community.”
According to public health guidance, measles symptoms usually appear between seven and 21 days after exposure.
That means anyone who was at the park on July 26 should continue monitoring their health through August 16. With that deadline approaching, officials say there are still 10 days left in which symptoms could emerge.
The Cleveland Clinic says common measles symptoms include ‘high fever, barky cough, red or bloodshot eyes, runny nose, tiredness, red spots with white centers in your mouth (Koplik’s spots), rash, digestive symptoms, like diarrhea, stomach pain and vomiting, sore throat, muscle pain, headache’.
The county department said a person with measles can pass the virus to others from about four days before a rash develops until roughly four days afterward.
Measles spreads through the air and can be transmitted when an infected person breathes, coughs, sneezes, or talks.
Officials also warned that the virus can linger in the air and on surfaces even after the infected person has left an area. Because of that, someone may still become infected by inhaling contaminated air or touching a contaminated surface and then touching their mouth, nose, or eyes.
The illness can be especially dangerous for people who are pregnant or immunocompromised, particularly if they have not been vaccinated.
In more severe cases, measles may cause pneumonia or encephalitis, a serious swelling of the brain, and it can sometimes be fatal.
If no symptoms appear within 21 days of a possible exposure, officials say that person is no longer considered at risk.
“These individuals should confirm their protection against measles,” the department said.
“Those who have had measles in the past or received the recommended measles vaccine are likely protected but should still monitor for symptoms.”
The Universal Studios exposure warning comes amid a dramatic surge in measles cases across the United States. The CDC has recorded more than 2,300 measles cases in 2026, already surpassing the 2,289 cases reported for the entire year of 2025. This represents the highest annual number of measles cases in the nation since 1991, when it was last declared eliminated in 2000. The vast majority of cases—93 percent—involve people who are either unvaccinated or have unknown vaccine status.
Two doses of the MMR vaccine are approximately 97 percent effective at preventing measles and provide long-term immunity. For those who may have been exposed, authorities recommend that unvaccinated individuals, pregnant people, immunocompromised people, or parents of infants under 12 months should contact a healthcare provider immediately rather than waiting for symptoms to appear.