Tourist may have brought measles to Disneyland amid worst outbreak in decades
SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP/KTVU) - Public health officials said people who visited Disneyland and other Southern California tourist spots earlier this month may have been exposed to measles.
Officials said a teenage girl from New Zealand had the highly contagious disease and may have spread it during her visit - although so far no related cases have been reported.
The girl arrived at Los Angeles International Airport on Aug. 11, stayed at the Desert Palms Hotel in Anaheim, visited Disneyland, the Disney California Adventure Park, Universal Studios, the Chinese Theatre and Madame Tussauds in Hollywood and the Santa Monica Pier before flying home Aug. 15.
Orange County health officials said people who may have been exposed should review their vaccination history if they have not previously had measles. Officials said those who have not had measles or the measles vaccine should talk with a health care provider about receiving Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccination.
Health officials said it can take seven to 21 days after exposure for symptoms to appear. Symptoms include fever and/or an unexplained rash.
Measles cases are rising around the world. New Zealand health officials said they're dealing with the worst outbreak there in two decades.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that as of Aug. 22, there have been 1,215 confirmed cases of measles in 30 states. That's the greatest number of cases reported in the U.S. since 1992 and since measles was declared eliminated in 2000.
The latest figures from the California Department of Public Health showed 66 confirmed cases in the state, including 10 in the Bay Area.
In 2014-2015, more than 150 people fell with the measles after an outbreak that originated at Disneyland.