"Mickey, Minnie and measles for nine Disneyland tourists"
By: Kevin Conlon
Source: CNN
http://www.cnn.com/2015/01/07/health/disneyland-measles/index.html
Between December 15 and
20, nine tourists from California and Utah visited Disneyland or Disney California
Adventure Park and were infected with the measles. Measles is caused by a virus
and spreads through the air; it causes runny nose, cough, fever, and blotchy
rash on the entire body. It can also result in red, watery eyes, body aches,
and tiny white spots with blueish/white centers found inside the mouth. The
reddish-brown body rash usually begins three to five days after the typical flu
symptoms occur. Measles are a very serious case as it is highly contagious and
can be fatal. It was considered eradicated in the United States in 2000 but in
2014, we saw a record breaking number of confirmed cases. According to the CDC
(Center for Disease Control), there were 610 cases confirmed last year. Health
officials assume that Disneyland was where the highly contagious disease was
prevalent. “Travelers to areas where measles is endemic can bring measles back
to the U.S., resulting in limited domestic transmission of measles. Disneyland
and other theme parks in California are international attractions and visitors
come from many parts of the world, including those where measles is endemic”,
says a health official from the California Department of Public Health (1). Those who show symptoms of even the simple flu
(fever, runny nose, cough, red eyes, sore throat) should immediately contact
their doctor since the rash appears a few days later. People must be very
careful as measles are passed on through the air and the only way to prevent
it, as of now, is to getting vaccinated.
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