Measles
 

Disney-linked measles cases rise to 19
The number of measles cases linked to Disney theme parks in California more than doubled in just 2 days, to 19 cases in three states, the Associated Press (AP) reported on Jan 9. On Jan 7 California's health department confirmed 9 cases, including 7 in California and 2 in Utah.

The new totals include 16 infections in California, 2 in Utah, and 1 in Colorado. California officials said that only 2 of the 16 patients in the state were fully vaccinated, some were partially vaccinated, and at least 2 were too young to be vaccinated.

The 19 patients had all visited Disneyland or Disney California Adventure between Dec 15 and 20, authorities said. More people might have been exposed when measles patients were treated at two Orange County hospitals, said county spokeswoman Nicole Stanfield. Eight of California's cases are in Orange County.

Stanfield urged those exhibiting measles symptoms to notify their doctor before seeking care to avoid exposing others to the highly contagious disease.
Jan 9 AP story
Jan 8 CIDRAP News scan on previous update

Measles index patient took 2 flights after leaving Disney
A woman in her 20s who sparked a Disney-linked 26-case measles outbreak flew from Orange County, Calif., to Seattle and back again before she was diagnosed as having the highly contagious disease on Jan 8, the Los Angeles Times reported yesterday.

The unvaccinated woman visited Disneyland in December then fell ill and became contagious on Dec 28, the story said. She flew from Orange County to Seattle via Alaska Airlines on Dec 29 and returned on a Virgin America flight on Jan 3. She visited family in Snohomish County, Wash., in the interim.

In addition, an unvaccinated man picked up measles after visiting Disneyland and was treated at Penrose Hospital in Colorado Springs, Colo., and recovered. But officials warned that people might have been exposed to the virus on Jan 3 and are contacting people about possible exposure.

As previously reported yesterday, 26 people have contracted measles in the outbreak, 22 in California, 2 in Utah, and 1 each in Washington and Colorado.
Jan 13 LA Times story
Jan 13 CIDRAP News scan on outbreak

News Scan for Jan 21, 2015
More Disney-linked measles; Polio efforts in Nigeria, Syria
Filed Under: Measles; Polio
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Disney-related measles outbreak grows to 67
The national number of measles cases linked to exposure at California Disney parks has grown to 67, with 59 of the cases confirmed in California.

In a statement today, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) said that, of the confirmed cases, 42 had been linked to an initial exposure in December at Disneyland or Disney California Adventure Park in Anaheim. It said the total includes 5 Disney employees and that other case-patients visited the Disney parks while they were infectious in January.

Eight other infections linked to the outbreak have been detected in other states, the Los Angeles Times reported today.

Meanwhile, the CDPH said local health departments continue to investigate possible cases and that several secondary cases have been reported. California's measles cases are from 11 different health jurisdictions, ranging in age from 7 months to 70 years.

Vaccination status is known for 34 of the cases: 28 of the patients were unvaccinated, 1 had received one dose, and 5 had received two or more vaccine doses.
Jan 21 CDPH statement
Jan 21 LA Times story