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 The California Department of Public Health reported 59 confirmed
measles cases among state residents since the end of December, most
linked to an initial exposure at Disneyland or the adjacent Disney
California Adventure Park.
Nine more cases linked to the two Disney parks were reported out of
state - one in Mexico, three in Utah, two in Washington state and
one each in Oregon, Colorado and Arizona.
The outbreak is believed to have begun when an infected person
visited the Anaheim resort, likely from out of the country, from
Dec. 15 to Dec. 20.
Among those infected are at least five Walt Disney Co employees and
a student at Huntington Beach High School, some 15 miles (24 km)
from the park, which earlier this week ordered its unvaccinated
students to stay home until Jan. 29.On Wednesday Dr. Gil Chavez,
deputy director of the state health department, told reporters that
anyone immunized for measles should have no concern about visiting
the theme parks.
"But if you are unvaccinated, I would worry about it," Chavez said.
"And if you have a minor that cannot be vaccinated – under the age
of 12 months, I would recommend that those children are not taken to
places like Disneyland today."
In an updated statement on Thursday, Chavez said his words of
caution extended to "any place where large numbers of people
congregate," including airports and shopping malls.
Asked about Chavez' remarks, Disney spokeswoman Suzi Brown said, "We
agree with what Dr. Chavez said that it is absolutely safe to visit
Disneyland if you have been immunized." She added that Disneyland
attendance had been unaffected by the outbreak.
Dr. Pamela Hymel, chief medical officer for Walt Disney Parks and
resorts, has said that Disney was offering its cast members
vaccinations and measles tests.
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"Realistically, when you think about Disneyland, you'll have 30,000
to 40,000 people visiting on any given day. It's like a small city.
And just like a small city it has to deal with this kind of thing,"
said Jim Hill, writer of a popular blog about the company.
Measles typically begins with fever, cough, runny nose and red eyes,
followed by red rash that often starts on the face and spreads
downward. The sometimes deadly viral disease can spread very swiftly
among unvaccinated children.
There is no specific treatment for measles and most people recover
within a few weeks. But in poor and malnourished children and people
with reduced immunity, measles can cause serious complications
including blindness, encephalitis, severe diarrhea, ear infection
and pneumonia.
(Reporting by Dan Whitcomb; Additional reporting by Steve Gorman;
Editing by Grant McCool and Eric Walsh)
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