Colorado patient tests positive for measles after Disneyland trip

County Public Health recommends prevention through immunization

A statement from Gunnison County Public Health reports 10 separate cases of measles being linked to visiting Disneyland or Disney California Adventure Park in Anaheim, Calif., between December 15 and December 20, 2014. One of these includes an infectious patient who was hospitalized at Penrose Hospital in Colorado Springs on January 3 after traveling to the theme park.

Director of Gunnison County Public Health Carol Worrall said via email, “Because the incubation period is seven to 21 days, susceptible exposed individuals could develop measles symptoms between January 10 and 24, 2015. ”
The virus causes fever and rash illness and can at times be fatal, and Worrall believes it is a particular public health concern because of how contagious the disease is.
Since measles is a highly contagious airborne virus, a person can contract the virus up to two hours after an infected individual occupied a closed area. As Worrall explained, “A person can spread measles three to five days before they develop symptoms, as well as while ill. In order to prevent the spread of measles disease, the population needs over 95% vaccine coverage rate.” Worrall said the county kindergarten rate for MMR coverage is approximately 92%, so Public Health’s concern about a measles outbreak is not a new concern in light of the recent case in the state of Colorado, but, as she said, “It just doesn’t help the situation.”
Measles symptoms include fever (usually 101° F or higher), cough, runny nose, and conjunctivitis, followed by a rash that spreads from the head down the body.
According to the Public Health statement, “The Certificate of Immunization that parents may sign for personal exemption states ‘In the event of an outbreak, exempted persons may be subject to exclusion from school and to quarantine.’”
While this has always been a requirement, many parents are unaware of the potential impact on school attendance. “If a case of measles were to occur in a school or preschool setting, persons who have been exempted from measles vaccination for medical, religious or personal reasons will be excluded from the affected facility until 21 days after the onset of rash in the last case of measles. Potentially this could be up to three months for the disease to cycle out of the school,” according to the statement from Public Health.
Worrall says the best treatment for measles is prevention through immunization, since no specific treatment exists.
Anyone with symptoms and recent travel to Disneyland or Penrose Hospital in Colorado Springs should call their doctor or Public Health at (970) 641-0209. Public Health asks people to not go directly to the office, but to call to notify the healthcare provider of their situation to avoid potential exposure to others.