Orange County confirms 2 more Disneyland measles cases, LA has 1 'likely' case (updated)

Orange County public health officials say they have confirmed two more cases of measles contracted at Disneyland or California Adventure last month, and the L.A. County Department of Public Health says it has confirmed a case that was probably contracted at one of the theme parks. That would bring the total to at least 12.

With its new cases, Orange County now has three confirmed measles patients, said Nicole Stanfield, spokeswoman for the county's Health Care Agency. All three patients are children, and one of them was hospitalized, she added. 

L.A. County said in a statement that its case "is likely associated" with the Disneyland/California Adventure cases.

Orange County is investigating three additional suspected Disneyland-related measles cases, said Stanfield, noting that those are in addition to the three suspected cases announced Wednesday by the California Department of Public Health.

All of those who contracted the disease visited Disneyland or California Adventure between Dec. 15 and Dec. 20, health officials say.

Ten of those infected are Californians; two are from Utah. The Californians are from six health jurisdictions - Alameda, Orange, Los Angeles, Pasadena, Riverside and San Diego, according to state health officials. At least eight of the Californians were unvaccinated; of that group, two were too young to be vaccinated. All three Orange County children were old enough to be vaccinated, but none was, Stanfield said. 

The California patient is "a middle aged male who is no longer contagious," said L.A.'s public health department. It did not indicate whether he had been vaccinated.

State health officials believe that an international tourist brought the disease to the theme parks, since measles was eliminated in the U.S. in 2000.

As part of the effort to limit the spread of the disease, health officials are reaching out to everyone who came into contact with those who contracted measles at the theme parks. Orange County on Thursday listed three medical facilities where the public could have been exposed in the days around New Year’s:

While noting that the risk of developing infection after brief encounters with persons with measles is "low," the Health Care Agency said, "as a precaution," anyone who was at one of those facilities during the indicated times should ensure that they are vaccinated against measles, and monitor themselves for fever and/or a rash for a week to three weeks after exposure.

The Agency said it is working with the facilities listed above to contact people who may have been exposed and are at increased risk of severe illness. 

Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that the California Department of Public Health announced three suspected measles cases on Thursday. The Department made the announcement on Wednesday.