Third Measles Case Confirmed in Disney Parks Exposure Incident
Health authorities in California have confirmed another case of measles connected to an exposure at the state's iconic Disney theme parks. This latest development follows the announcement of the first case just one week ago by Orange County health officials, which had already placed thousands of individuals at potential risk of contracting the deadly virus.
Exposure Details and Public Health Warning
According to the official release from county health officials, the infectious individual visited Disneyland Park from 8 am to 4 pm and Disney California Adventure Park from 3 pm until closing at 9 pm on Thursday, January 22. The county statement explicitly warned: 'People who were at these locations during the date and times listed above may be at risk of developing measles from 7 to 21 days after being exposed.'
This marks the third confirmed measles case reported in Orange County this year alone. Dr Anissa Davis, deputy county health officer of Orange County, emphasized the severity of the situation: 'Because measles is highly contagious, it can spread quickly within communities, even among those who haven’t traveled.' She further highlighted the vulnerability of certain populations: 'There are populations who cannot receive the measles vaccine – whether due to age, health conditions or allergies. Those individuals may face significantly higher health risks when exposed to the virus.'
Background of the Disney Parks Exposure Incident
The initial measles exposure at Disney Parks was first reported last week when the Orange County Health Care Agency (HCA) disclosed that an international traveler with a confirmed measles case had passed through Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) before visiting Disneyland in Anaheim, California. While infectious, this individual visited multiple locations:
- Goofy's Kitchen in Disneyland Hotel from 10:30 am to 1:30 pm on Wednesday, January 28
- Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park from 12:30 pm to closing at 9 pm on the same day
The international traveler arrived at LAX on Monday, January 26 at the Tom Bradley International Terminal B on Viva Aerobus flight No 518 at gate 201A, potentially exposing people at the terminal between 10:45 pm and 1 am Tuesday, according to the County of Los Angeles Public Health.
Scale of Potential Exposure and Public Health Response
The potential scale of exposure is considerable given the parks' daily attendance figures. Disneyland Park averages 47,500 guests per day with a maximum capacity of 85,000, while Disney California Adventure Park averages 27,500 guests daily with a maximum capacity of 51,000. Health officials are urgently advising anyone who was present at these locations during the specified times to verify their immunity status, either through prior infection or vaccination, and to monitor closely for symptoms.
California has recorded nine confirmed measles cases this year, with this recent news emerging as the United States confronts one of the most severe measles resurgences since the disease was declared eliminated in the early 2000s.
National Measles Outbreak Context
The situation in California occurs against the backdrop of a significant national outbreak. As of February 6, 2026, the South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH) has documented 920 measles cases since October 2025, surpassing a massive outbreak in Texas last year that infected over 800 people. Of these, 706 cases have been reported in 2026 alone according to DPH data.
Currently, 277 people are in quarantine with eight in isolation, representing a decrease from more than 400 in quarantine and 20 in isolation the previous week. No measles-related deaths have been reported nationally or in South Carolina so far in 2026, though there were three fatalities in 2025.
Measles cases have been reported in numerous states in 2026 including:
- Maine
- Nebraska
- Georgia
- Oklahoma
- Minnesota
- North Dakota
- Wisconsin
- Texas
- Ohio
- Virginia
- Kentucky
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- South Dakota
- Idaho
- North Carolina
- Florida
- Washington
- Arizona
- Utah
Cases in North Carolina, Washington, and California have been epidemiologically linked to the South Carolina outbreak.
Understanding Measles: Transmission and Prevention
Measles is an infectious yet preventable disease caused by a virus that produces flu-like symptoms followed by a distinctive rash that begins on the face and spreads downward throughout the body. In severe instances, complications can include pneumonia, seizures, brain inflammation, permanent neurological damage, and death.
The virus transmits through direct contact with infectious droplets or via airborne transmission. Infected individuals remain contagious from four days before the rash appears through four days after its emergence. The United States formally eliminated measles in 2000, defined as the absence of continuous community transmission for twelve months, largely due to widespread uptake of the MMR vaccine.
Enclosed environments such as airports and aircraft present particularly high-risk settings for disease transmission, as the measles virus spreads through airborne droplets when infected persons cough or sneeze. Public health authorities continue to emphasize vaccination as the most effective preventive measure against this resurgent threat.
