Beverly Hills Unified families heading back to class on Wednesday, Aug. 12, have a new reason to double-check their children's vaccination records: a confirmed measles case tied to an 11-hour visit at Universal Studios Hollywood on July 26 overlaps with the first week of school.
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health confirmed Aug. 5 that anyone at the theme park between 10 a.m. and 9 p.m. that Sunday may have been exposed. The monitoring window runs through Sunday, Aug. 16, four days after BHUSD students return to campus.
"We urge everyone to confirm their immunity and get the MMR vaccine if needed, especially before traveling and attending crowded events," LA County Health Officer Dr. Muntu Davis said in the department's alert.
A growing national outbreak
The county's alert noted that 2,371 measles cases had been reported nationally as of July 31, the highest total in 35 years. The Universal Studios case is the ninth confirmed in LA County this year, according to TechTimes. About 93% of this year's cases involve people who are unvaccinated or whose vaccination status is unknown, ABC7 reported.
What BHUSD parents should do now
California law requires two doses of the MMR vaccine for all K-12 students before school entry, with both doses given on or after a child's first birthday. Students advancing to seventh grade also need a Tdap booster. Those requirements have not changed despite recent federal shifts to the CDC immunization schedule.
Two MMR doses are 97% effective against measles. Statewide, 96.1% of kindergartners had received all required MMR doses in 2024-25, according to the California Department of Public Health.
But LA County's MMR coverage among children under five may be as low as 66.5%, according to a modeled estimate in a 2026 Nature Health study cited by TechTimes. That figure falls well below the 95% threshold epidemiologists say is needed for community-level protection.
Symptoms to watch
Measles symptoms include fever above 101°F, cough, runny nose, red and watery eyes, and a rash that typically starts on the face three to five days after other symptoms appear. The virus can linger in the air for hours after an infected person leaves.
Anyone exposed who remains symptom-free for more than 21 days is no longer at risk. People at higher risk, including pregnant individuals, infants under 12 months and immunocompromised residents, should contact a healthcare provider immediately rather than waiting for symptoms. The department advises calling before visiting any medical facility.
Where to get vaccinated
Uninsured or underinsured children and adults can access free or low-cost MMR vaccines through clinics in the Vaccines for Children and Vaccines for Adults programs. To find a clinic, call 2-1-1 or visit ph.lacounty.gov/vaccineclinics. LA County Public Health can be reached at (626) 430-5360.
BHUSD Superintendent Dr. Alex Cherniss had not issued a public statement about the exposure as of Friday, Aug. 7. The symptom-monitoring deadline of Aug. 16 falls on the Saturday after the first week of classes.
