Forty-two cases in the growing measles outbreak in Califorina have been linked back to an initial outbreak at Disneyland, which started in December, after park-goers and employees came down with the disease after visiting the park between December 15 and 20, 2014.
Further measles cases have since cropped up in Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, Oregon, Utah, and Washington, as well as another reported case in Nevada that’s still being investigated for a possible Disneyland link.
Representatives from the Center for Infectious Diseases are urging the public, especially children under the age of 12-years-old who haven’t had a measles vaccination, to steer clear of Disneyland until the outbreak clears.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) characterize measles is a highly contagious respiratory virus that’s airborne and causes early symptoms, including runny nose, sore throat, fever, cough, and inflamed eyes (conjunctivitis) before the rash. Measles rash appears as tiny red, slightly raised spots in tight clusters that look blotchy and flow into one another. The rash typically appears first on the face, around and behind the ears, and along the hairline, but will spread down the arms, trunk, legs while the fever increases sharply to approximately 104-degrees Fahrenheit (or 40-degrees Celsius).
The CDC also notes that you are protected from contracting the measles if you’ve received a measles immunization.
