Another measles case has been confirmed in connection to an exposure at California’s Disney theme parks.
The new case comes just one week after Orange County health officials announced the first case, which exposed thousands of people to the deadly virus.
With the newest case, health officials reported that the infectious person visited Disneyland Park from 8 am to 4 pm and Disney California Adventure Park from 3 pm to closing at 9 pm on Thursday, January 22.
The county release said: ‘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 is the third case of measles reported in Orange County this year.
Dr Anissa Davis, deputy county health officer of Orange County, said: ‘Because measles is highly contagious, it can spread quickly within communities, even among those who haven’t traveled.
‘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.’
Measles exposure at the Disney Parks was first reported last week when the Orange County Health Care Agency (HCA) said in a statement last weekend that an international traveler with a confirmed case of measles came through Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and visited Disneyland in Anaheim, California.
While infectious, the person visited Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park on January 22 (file photo)
While infectious, the person visited Goofy’s Kitchen in Disneyland Hotel from 10:30 am to 1:30 pm on Wednesday, January 28, and 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 and may have exposed people at the terminal between 10:45 pm and 1 am Tuesday, according to the County of Los Angeles Public Health.
Disneyland Park has an average of 47,500 guests per day with a maximum capacity of 85,000. Disney California Adventure Park has an average of 27,500 guests per day with a maximum capacity of 51,000.
Officials are urging people who were in these locations during this time to check their immunity status, either through prior infection or vaccination, and monitor for symptoms.
California has recorded nine confirmed measles cases this year, but the recent news comes as the US battles one of the worst resurgences of measles since it was declared eliminated in the early 2000s.
South Carolina’s outbreak of measles, which causes the distinctive rash pictured above, has surpassed a massive surge seen in Texas last year (stock image)
As of February 6, 2026, the South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH) has recorded 920 measles cases since October 2025, surpassing a massive outbreak in Texas last year that has infected over 800.
Of these, 706 cases have been reported in 2026 alone, according to DPH.
There are currently 277 people in quarantine and eight in isolation, a decrease from more than 400 in quarantine and 20 insolation the week before.
No deaths have been reported in the state or nationwide so far in 2026. There were three deaths in 2025.
So far in 2026, measles cases have also been reported in Maine, Nebraska, Georgia, Oklahoma, Minnesota, North Dakota, Wisconsin, Texas, Ohio, Virginia, Kentucky, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Idaho, North Carolina, Florida, Washington, Arizona and Utah.
Disneyland Park (pictured above) has an average of 47,500 guests per day with a maximum capacity of 85,000
Cases in North Carolina, Washington and California have been linked to the South Carolina outbreak.
Measles is an infectious, but preventable, disease caused by a virus that leads to flu-like symptoms, a rash that starts on the face and spreads down the body, and, in severe cases, pneumonia, seizures, brain inflammation, permanent brain damage, and death.
The virus is spread through direct contact with infectious droplets or through the air. Patients with a measles infection are contagious from four days before the rash through four days after the rash appears.
The US formally eliminated measles in 2000, meaning there had been no community spread in 12 months, due to widespread MMR vaccine uptake.
Enclosed areas like airports and planes are extremely risky locations for disease transmission, as the measles virus spreads via airborne droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
