(January 14)  A measles outbreak in four states includes California and San Bernardino County, county health officials have confirmed.
At least some of the cases are related to exposure at the California Disneyland theme parks December 15 through December 20.
Measles, though highly contagious, has been controlled in recent decades by extensive vaccination of the public. Most of the population born prior to 1957 is immune to the virus, due to their having contracted the disease in their youth. According to public health officials, in excess of 90 percent of the schoolchildren in San Bernardino County have been inoculated for measles. State law requires children entering school to show proof of measles immunization. Over the years, measles immunizations have been highly refined and are better than 95 percent effective.
Those born after 1957 who have not been immunized are at risk during the current epidemic, health officials say.
Thirty-two cases in four states – California, Utah, Colorado and Washington – have now been confirmed, with 22 of those cases in California. There are nine confirmed cases in Orange County, one each in the Los Angeles County cities of Long Beach and Pasadena, another at an unspecified location in Los Angeles County, two cases in San Diego County, two in Riverside County, one in Ventura County, three in Alameda County and the two aforementioned cases in San Bernardino County. There are, however, a significant number of suspected cases at a handful of hot spots in Southern California that indicate the disease is spreading. At a clinic in La Mesa in San Diego County, more than a half dozen people sought treatment for measles-like symptoms, including fever and rashes. That clinic has been temporarily closed down to limit the spread of the illness.
In six of the cases in California, hospitalization was ordered by doctors. At least twelve of the California victims had not been immunized, but four had been vaccinated.
A list of locations in Southern California where an individual or individuals now known to have measles within the last several weeks has been compiled and health officials are looking into other cases of potential exposure to the public.
Health officials have confirmed the December 15 to 20 dates of exposure at Disneyland, but said that any further exposure at that location had passed. Other locations of potential exposure were the Magic Wok at 12029 Central Avenue in Chino on Tuesday, January 6 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., Pomona Valley Health Center’s Urgent Care facility at 3110 Chino Avenue Suite #150 in Chino on Thursday, January 8, 2015 from 3:56 p.m. to 5:05 p.m., Casino Morongo, 49500 Seminole Drive, Cabazon on Sunday, January 4 from 6 p.m.to 11:30 p.m. and Jimmy’s Warehouse Sportscard at 12327 Whittier Blvd in Whittier on Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2015 from 3 p.m.to 10 p.m.
California health officials advised those that develop measles symptoms, consisting of a rash and fever, to stay at home and call a health care provider immediately or the county health department communicable disease program at 1-800-722-4794. They should not, health officials said, visit a health care provider without first notifying them about the potential exposure.