June 28, 2025 #1 Local News, Information and Event Source for the Century City/Westwood areas.

CDC Warnings for MERS Go Up at LAX

MERS
LAX has started putting up posters warning of the coronavirus MERS. (Thinkstock)

Posters warning travelers of the threat of the deadly MERS infection went up on May 14 at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

There is no treatment for the respiratory illness, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS), that kills about one in three people who contract it, according to the Centers for Disease Control. The CDC is working on a vaccine.

MERS requires close contact to spread and confirmed cases of the infection have been concentrated in the Arabian Peninsula, but two cases were reported in the United States this month. Both patients were healthcare workers who live in Saudi Arabia and had been traveling to the United States.

They were hospitalized in Indiana and Florida, where CDC officials are tracking those with whom they had contact.

The first patient has been released from the hospital, according to the CDC. The patient in the second case, confirmed Sunday, reportedly was doing “well” Monday.

The World Health Organization has reported 571 confirmed cases of MERS, including 171 deaths, in 18 countries. All have been linked to the Arabian Peninsula, where MERS first emerged about two years ago, according to the CDC.

CDC officials say the risk to the U.S. general public is “very low” and the World Health Organization said the spread of the disease does not constitute a global health emergency. However, officials want travelers to the Arabian Peninsula to be aware of MERS symptoms that could be mistaken for the flu. Posters are going up at 20 airports nationwide.

County health officials have been closely monitoring the infection since 2012, according to Dr. Laurene Mascola, chief of the county’s Acute Communicable Disease Control unit.

“We have ramped up our notifications to doctors and emergency rooms,” Mascola said.

She reiterated the low likelihood of contracting the disease in the United States.

“It’s not casually spread,” Mascola said. “It’s not spread in the community in general, even in Saudi Arabia,” where the majority of cases have been reported.

Symptoms include fever, cough and shortness of breath. The CDC recommends that travelers to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Jordan, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates monitor their health closely for 14 days after travel and immediately call a doctor if they experience such symptoms.

The CDC does not recommend changing travel plans because of the MERS threat. It does advise travelers to wash their hands often and avoid contact with sick people. It also offers special precautions to be taken by health-care providers traveling to the Arabian Peninsula for work.

Precautions at county hospitals include putting masks on patients with respiratory symptoms and isolating them from others in emergency rooms, according to Dr. Suzanne Donovan, an infectious disease specialist at Olive View-UCLA Medical Center.

Those steps are routinely taken to prevent the spread of tuberculosis and other respiratory diseases, Donovan said. New efforts to educate patients about MERS include signs asking emergency room patients who have recently traveled to the Middle East to report to the triage nurse immediately.

Related Posts

Suspect Charged by Los Angeles DA with Shooting of Santa Monica Cop and Teens

June 27, 2025

June 27, 2025

Faces Attempted Murder Charges and Over 100 Years to Life in Prison if Convicted. Criminal charges have been filed against...

Café UCLA Pops Up in Westwood to Honor Arthur Ashe’s Historic Wimbledon Win

June 27, 2025

June 27, 2025

Three-Day Celebration Includes Giveaways in Tribute to the Iconic Athlete and Activist UCLA will commemorate the 50th anniversary of Arthur...

Captain America Hits the Skirball Big Screen for Heroic Outdoor Movie Night

June 27, 2025

June 27, 2025

Museum-Goers Can Also Catch a Superhero-Themed Drawing Session The Skirball Cultural Center will host an outdoor screening of Captain America:...

Demolition Underway at Beverly Grove Squatter Site After Mystery Fire Renews Safety Fears

June 27, 2025

June 27, 2025

Crews Begin Tearing Down Long-Vacant Apartments on First and Flores  Demolition has begun at a group of long-abandoned apartment buildings...

(Video) Welcome to the Urban Jungle — where nature meets the city and style meets soul

June 26, 2025

June 26, 2025

Whether you’re chasing that gritty city energy or carving out a green oasis in your space, we’re here to help...

Santa Monica Police Arrest Shooting Suspect After Officer Ambushed Near Downtown Mall

June 26, 2025

June 26, 2025

Man Linked to Waymo Vehicle Gunfire Taken Into Custody Following Tense Manhunt The suspect wanted in connection with a shooting...

Brentwood Weekend Specials: $9 Wine & Street Tacos, Blush-Inspired Lattes & Beauty Swag

June 26, 2025

June 26, 2025

Street Tacos and Wine Meets Self-Care in Brentwood and Santa Monica Brentwood Fine Wines will welcome back local culinary favorite...

Michelin Stars Shine Bright on LA: Somni West Hollywood and Providence Earn Top Honors

June 26, 2025

June 26, 2025

Two Restaurants in Los Angeles Receive Three Stars as Michelin Guide Celebrates Bold Flavors The MICHELIN Guide California 2025 celebrated...

Cherished Culver City Ice Cream Vendor Abducted in Broad Daylight

June 26, 2025

June 26, 2025

Ambrocio “Enrique” Lozano’s Disappearance Led To Grassroots Action Ambrocio Lozano, also known in the neighborhood as Enrique, was abducted around...

Brentwood Home by Landry Design Group Wins Top National Architecture Award

June 25, 2025

June 25, 2025

Landry Design Group Wins Gold Nugget Awards for Brentwood, Crestwood Projects Landry Design Group (LDG) earned two top honors at...

(Video) WISE & Healthy Aging Helps Loved Ones Boost Their Quality of Life

June 24, 2025

June 24, 2025

See How the Nonprofit’s Innovative Programs Advance the Dignity of Life for Older Adults See How the Nonprofit’s Innovative Programs...

Masked Federal Agents Detain Iranian Asylum Seeker and Wife in Westwood

June 24, 2025

June 24, 2025

31-Year-Old Woman was Hospitalized After Possible Medical Emergency On Tuesday, June 24, between 11:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., near the...

Los Angeles Leaders Push to Ban Masks for Federal Agents Amid Immigration Raids

June 24, 2025

June 24, 2025

Concerns Grow Over Anonymous ICE and CBP Officers in Los Angeles   A growing coalition of California lawmakers and local leaders...

(Video) Food Fight: Chefs Join Forces to Raise Money to Protect Immigrant Families in Venice

June 24, 2025

June 24, 2025

Estrano, Little Dynamite, Sunday Gravy, Kabob Senpai Answer the Call From Turk’s Pizza Party. Dave Turkel Put This Food Resistance...

Squatter-Plagued Beverly Grove Buildings Could Be Razed After Hazard Cleanup

June 24, 2025

June 24, 2025

Demolition of Three Abandoned Apartments May Begin in Two Weeks Three abandoned apartment buildings in Beverly Grove may soon be...