Disneyland California
The new game Kinect Disneyland Adventures is shown on screen at the Microsoft E3 XBOX 360 media briefing in Los Angeles, California June 6, 2011. REUTERS/Fred Prouser

A measles outbreak has hit Disneyland. Several employees of the theme park in California were recently diagnosed with the ailment, according to a spokeswoman of the Orange County Health Care Agency.

The confirmation from the county came after nine cases of measles were recorded of visitors to either Disneyland or Disney California Adventure Park in Anaheim between Dec 15 and 20, reports CNN.

In Orange County, diagnosed cases reached 18 people, made up of five children and 13 adults. In California, the total has reached 41, according to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH).

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on its Web site that there were 610 cases of measles in 2014, the highest on record since the disease was considered eradicated in the US in 2000.

Measles is a respiratory disease caused by a virus and is spread through air. Its symptoms include fever, runny nose, cough, red eyes and sore throat. It is followed by body rash.

Those with such symptoms are advised to see their doctors immediately, said Dr Ron Chapman, state health officer of California. He urged Californians to get vaccinated to further prevent the spread of the virus.

The CDPH, explains further, “Travelers to areas where measles is endemic can bring measles back to the U.S., resulting in limited domestic transmission of measles.”

It pointed out that Disney and other theme parks in the state draw international visitors, some of whom may carry the measles virus.

Dr Pamela Hymel, chief medical officer of Disney, said the theme park management is working with the health department to provide information and assistance.

Dr James Cherry, a specialist in pediatric infectious diseases at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, blames the spread of the virus on the refusal of parents to have their kids vaccinated, making one in 10 people susceptible to measles.

Rumours that childhood shots cause autism is one of the reason behind parental resistance to vaccinations.

NBC reports that the disease has spread to three more states and Mexico. Utah has three, Washington has two, Colorado has one and Mexico has one.

To contact the writer, email: v.hernandez@ibtimes.com.au