New Numbers Released in Measles Outbreak

California health officials released new numbers Friday in the ongoing measles outbreak.

Measles cases in California have risen to 68 total, with 48 connected epidemiologically to the Disneyland outbreak.

The California Department of Public Health said the total number of cases in the state is up from 59 cases reported two days ago. Of those, 13 were reported in San Diego County.

The state also reports a measles case confirmed in Nebraska is one of 57 cases across the U.S. that are directly linked to the exposure at the Anaheim theme park.

Initially, health officials said anyone who visited Disneyland from Dec. 16 to Dec. 20 may have been exposed to the virus. On Wednesday, Orange County health officials declared there was ongoing transmission at the theme park.

So for now, the state wants individuals who are not vaccinated, especially infants under 12 months to consider not being in places where large numbers of people congregate. Those locations include airports, shopping malls and tourist attractions like theme parks.

"It is absolutely safe to visit these places, including the Disneyland Resort, if you are vaccinated," Dr. Gil Chavez, State Epidemiologist and Deputy Director, Center for Infectious Diseases, California Department of Public Health said Thursday in a release.

Patients range in age from 7 months to 70 years.

When it comes to how many of those patients were immunized against the disease, officials said they have documentation for 34 of the cases. Twenty-eight had not been immunized. They include six babies who are too young to have received the vaccination, officials said.

Five of the patients had received two or more doses of MMR vaccine.

If you or someone you know hasn't been immunized against the measles, it's not too late.

Health officials say two doses of the MMR vaccine are more than 99 percent effective in preventing measles.

Anyone who is unsure, can call their physician and request a test to check for measles immunity or get vaccination, officials said.

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