Measles at Disneyland (combined threads)

[Luv Bunnies]

I just looked up how the measles virus is transmitted to make sure I was clear on it. It's a highly contagious disease. About 90% of unvaccinated people will contract the virus if exposed to it. An infected person can be contagious for several days before symptoms appear. It is spread through the droplets emitted by a cough or sneeze of an infected person. The virus can survive on a surface for several hours. If a person touches the surface and then touches their eyes, nose, or mouth, they can contract the virus.

Having said that, it's important to remember that Disneyland itself is not infected. A person carried the virus into the park and infected other people during a 5-day period last month. The person may not yet have been symptomatic and didn't even know they had a contagious disease.

You can contract any number of diseases any time you step into a populated area - a store, a restaurant, a shopping mall, a theme park. The best thing you can do is ensure you and your family members are vaccinated. Also, be extra vigilant about keeping your hands clean. Wash hands frequently with soap and water. Carry hand sanitizer and antibacterial wipes. Wipe down tables before eating. Remind everyone to keep their hands away from their faces. At this time of year, I would be much more worried about the flu than any other illness.

 

[thatgrljme]

^^^^very well said!

 

[mom2rtk]

The "others" are stupid. Disneyland doesn't have a measles problem, it was the specific people who were there that day.

The same thing could happen in Walmart in UT.

For all you know OP, someone might show up in your hometown with measles while you are gone to DL. So your trip could save you from exposure.

 

[nannyz]

With what I am seeing on the news right now, I am much more concerned about my asthmatic granddaughter catching the flu than I would be her catching the measles, at DL or anywhere else.

 

[starjazz]

I think everyone planning to go in February better cancel their trips....

 

[sweetpee_1993]

I think everyone planning to go in February better cancel their trips....

Yes. Final week of January, too!

 

[TheChapman6]

I'm going to be there on the 25th. I will literally rub my face on every surface I can find in Disneyland. Like a cat. That's how unworried I am by measles at Disneyland at this point. Can someone come bail me out of jail in Anaheim the night of the 25th btw? But seriously folks, everyone should make their own decisions about their health, etc. I'm vaccinated, and my decision is that I'm not giving it a second thought.

Me too I get so caught up in the Disney Magic I start hugging strangers ie Minnie, tigger, capt hook, Cinderella etc. then I talked to random strangers while standing super close to them...think of the super tight fantasyland land ques.

 

[TheChapman6]

Interesting update: http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-measles-disneyland-spread-alarms-20150117-story.html

So this Artie says you are contagious before you know you have it and you are sneezing or coughing etc but might not have a rash for 4-5 days so the person who brought it to Disneyland may think they got it there, but really had it before they arrived.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

So this Artie says you are contagious before you know you have it and you are sneezing or coughing etc but might not have a rash for 4-5 days so the person who brought it to Disneyland may think they got it there, but really had it before they arrived.

True. Interesting.

 

[DahliaRW]

I just looked up how the measles virus is transmitted to make sure I was clear on it. It's a highly contagious disease. About 90% of unvaccinated people will contract the virus if exposed to it. An infected person can be contagious for several days before symptoms appear. It is spread through the droplets emitted by a cough or sneeze of an infected person. The virus can survive on a surface for several hours. If a person touches the surface and then touches their eyes, nose, or mouth, they can contract the virus.

The *good* think about measles, that probably actually helped quell the spread, is that the virus is easily destroyed by ultraviolet light. So on outdoor surfaces on a sunny day, the survival is going to be way less than several hours. http://www.nature.com/nrmicro/journal/v4/n12/box/nrmicro1550_BX1.html

 

[Gisele]

Five measles cases affecting cast members have been reported by Disneyland most recently.

http://www.foxnews.com/health/2015/...neyland-employees-infected-by-recent-measles/

 

[Geemo]

Five measles cases affecting cast members have been reported by Disneyland most recently.

http://www.foxnews.com/health/2015/...neyland-employees-infected-by-recent-measles/

Thank you for the news link. We have a trip the first of March. My DIL was wondering if we should be concerned.

I told her heck NO we're go'n! We've all had our vaccinations, shouldn't be an issue for us.

originally posted byClosetDisneyJunkie
I'm going to be there on the 25th. I will literally rub my face on every surface I can find in Disneyland. Like a cat. That's how unworried I am by measles at Disneyland at this point.

Can someone come bail me out of jail in Anaheim the night of the 25th btw?

But seriously folks, everyone should make their own decisions about their health, etc. I'm vaccinated, and my decision is that I'm not giving it a second thought.

ClosetDisneyJunkie let us know if the park attendance seems to be effected by the latest news. I love your humor. Good luck on the 25th.


Geemo

 

[jennynwdw]

We were in the parks Jan 3 - 8. We had 14 people in our group. We did not get measles.

 

[JandD75]

Yes. Final week of January, too!

And the week I'm going, as well!

 

[StellaD]

My kids have had all their vaccinations, but I got to thinking if I've ever had a booster for measles? I've contacted my doctor to see if I should just get one. All the publicity about this got me thinking. It certainly won't stop our trip, but it does make me think more about how to further protect ourselves.

 

[Malcon10t]

My kids have had all their vaccinations, but I got to thinking if I've ever had a booster for measles? I've contacted my doctor to see if I should just get one. All the publicity about this got me thinking. It certainly won't stop our trip, but it does make me think more about how to further protect ourselves.

Have you had your pneumonia and flu shots?

 

[StellaD]

Flu, but not pneumonia.

 

[thatgrljme]

My kids have had all their vaccinations, but I got to thinking if I've ever had a booster for measles? I've contacted my doctor to see if I should just get one. All the publicity about this got me thinking. It certainly won't stop our trip, but it does make me think more about how to further protect ourselves.

I had a titers last year when measles was pretty wide spread in SoCal. I did not have immunities left so I had a booster. My father got a titers and his showed immunities. It doesn't hurt at all to make sure you're covered.

 

[ClosetDisneyJunkie]

ClosetDisneyJunkie let us know if the park attendance seems to be effected by the latest news. I love your humor. Good luck on the 25th.


Geemo

Will-do!

 

[thatgrljme]

Most outbreaks are in fully vaccinated populations. Over half of those who got measles in this one were vaccinated. That means the vaccines don't work as expected.

Where are you getting this information from? Every single aritcle I've read related to this issue has said the following:

Article on Disneyland Measles Issue

Officials have said the vast majority of those infected were not vaccinated against measles, and the outbreak has fanned the ongoing controversy over California parents who choose not to vaccinate their children – many of whom are well-educated and upper-middle class.

The victims include a 22-month-old girl from Mexico, and four children who are under a year old, and thus too young to receive the MMR vaccine, which is first administered at 12 months.

Of the 5 employees that got the virus, two had been vaccinated, three had not. You are correct that vaccines aren't 100%, but they work and have eradecated deadly viruses that now seem to be coming back with a vegence since this anti-vax movement has gotten so big.

I highly commend the Disney company for forcing the employees to go on PAID leave until this is figured out. If you aren't able to provide shot records or an immunity test you are also forced to paid leave. At least they are taking the steps to try to prevent any additional park guest and CM's from contracting this disease.