Local News in Brief : Measles Outbreak Claims 2 Children
An outbreak of measles among members of a Long Beach church has left two children dead, 12 hospitalized and two more sick at home.
“I anticipate a few more cases,” said Bob Salcido, senior epidemiologist with the Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services. “Usually it comes in waves.”
The 16 stricken children--ranging in age from 6 months to 13 years--are all of Samoan ancestry and associated with United Samoan Assembly of God in Long Beach, Salcido said. The two who died, he said, were ages 3 and 19 months. Salcido would not release the children’s names.
At least six of the stricken children had not been immunized against the disease, Salcido said.
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