OAKLAND (KRON) — One of seven confirmed cases of the measles in California lives in Alameda County.
The California Department of Public Health says in all seven cases, the patients had recently visited Disneyland or Disney California Adventure Park in Orange County. Officials say there are two other cases involving Utah residents.
“If you have symptoms and believe you may have been exposed, please contact your health care provider,” State Health Officer Dr. Ron Chapman said in a written statement. “The best way to prevent measles and its spread is to get vaccinated.”
Six of the seven confirmed cases had not received the vaccine although officials say two of those patients were too young to receive the inoculation.
The patients range in age from eight-months to 21-year old. All visited the Disney parks between December 15th and December 20th of last year.
Disney officials have not commented on the report.
“Based on information from current cases, it is likely that a person infectious with measles was at one of the theme parks on those dates,” the health department adds. “People can be infectious with measles for nine days. Measles typically begins with fever, cough, runny nose, and red eyes and whithin a few days a red rash appears, usually first on the face and then spreads downward to the rest of the body. Measles is a highly infectious airborne disease.”
Health officials say measles has been eliminated in the U.S. since 2,000 but large outbreaks have happened in Pakistan, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Western Europe.