SAN DIEGO -- A San Diego baby has been quarantined in Hawaii after being diagnosed with the measles. Now health officials, both locally and abroad, are trying to contact passengers who may have been exposed to the disease on the infant's plane.

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According to the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency, the 11-month-old is the fifth confirmed case of the latest outbreak.

The baby is currently in isolation on a Hawaiian military base until Feb. 14, when officials say the child will no longer be contagious. The family of the 11-month-old child traveled to Hawaii last week.

According to the county, the infant is believed to have acquired the disease at the Children’s Clinic in La Jolla. That's the same clinic where the first measles patient received care on Jan. 25.

Health officials in Hawaii and San Diego are now trying to notify at-risk passengers who were on the same Hawaiian Airlines flight as the infant. Flight No. 15 left Lindbergh Field from Terminal 2, Gate 41 to Honolulu at 10:30 a.m. on Feb. 9.

Officials said the baby's family sought medical attention when the child developed a rash.

“It is extremely important that passengers, particularly children, in close proximity to this area of the airport around (8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.) are aware that they may have been exposed to the disease,” said Dr. Wilma Wooten, the county's public health officer.

“Children younger than 12 months of age and individuals not vaccinated are at greater risk because they have not received the measles vaccine," Wooten said.

In addition to the 11-month-old, there are five additional suspect cases of measles.

That includes a 2-year-old child who may have other children at Alcott Elementary School Infant & Toddler Development Program and School of the Madeleine. The child is enrolled at Alcott and briefly visited The School of the Madeleine on Feb. 6. Health officials are working to notify affected parents.

A 10-month-old remains hospitalized and may also have the disease.

In that case, 16 children who attend Baldwin Academy in Pacific Beach are now on home quarantine for two weeks. Three of them had not been vaccinated for measles because their parents opted them out of getting the shot. Thirteen of the students are younger than 1 year old.

County health officials said the baby also exposed about 58 children at the Murray Callan Swim School, also in Pacific Beach.

According to the county, all five pending cases are believed to have been contracted at the Children’s Clinic. The children returned to the doctor’s office during Feb. 5 and Feb. 8 and may have exposed additional patients to measles.

This is the county’s first outbreak of measles in children in 17 years.

Symptoms Of Measles

The measles is a highly contagious virus that spreads like a cold, through sneezing and coughing. The virus can live for hours on a surface, so if you touch a contaminated surface then touch your mouth, nose or eyes you can be exposed.

People are contagious for about four days before and four days after the rash appears, for a total of about 10 to 14 days.

The first sign are cold-like symptoms with a high fever, then a red, itchy rash first appears on the head and moves down toward the feet.

Babies, 12 months and younger, and anyone with a depressed immune system or breathing problems, are most at risk of serious and even deadly complications from measles.

If someone thinks they or a relative has the measles, first contact your doctor before you go in. They will tell you when and how to come in through a separate entrance, so you don't risk exposing others.

For more information about measles and the shots that protect against them please call the HHSA Immunization Branch at 619-692-8661.

Previous Stories:

• February 12, 2008: Measles Outbreak May Be Widening
• February 12, 2008: Baby May Be 5th Local Measles Case
• February 7, 2008: Fourth Measles Case Recorded At Linda Vista School
• February 5, 2008: Measles Outbreak Worries Health Officials