Disney staff infected in measles outbreak

Wednesday, 22 Jan, 2015 0

 

Five Disney employees are among 53 people diagnosed with measles in an outbreak, which started at its California theme park.

Walt Disney Parks and Resorts released a statement saying that it had offered all Disneyland staff vaccinations and immunity tests since being notified of the outbreak on January 7.

The measles outbreak has been traced back to people who visited Disneyland between December 17 and 20, but it has since spread across California, Washington, Utah, Colorado, and Mexico.

"It’s pretty ubiquitous now throughout the county," said Dr. Eric Handler, Orange County’s public health officer.

"Clearly, we have an unprotected population that needs to be immunized to halt the spread of the disease."

Park officials said three of the affected employees have been treated and cleared.

Other staff who may have come into contact with these employees and had not been vaccinated or cannot confirm they are immune have been put on paid leave, Disneyland officials said.

"Nothing could have been done to prevent this outbreak given that measles is present in many parts of the world, and there are susceptible people in the US. The only way to prevent measles is through immunization, and this outbreak is a reminder that measles is just a plane ride away from the United States,"  California Department of Public Health said.



 

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Linsey McNeill

Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk



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