The Disneyland measles outbreak that began late last year is over, California public health officials said Friday.
The California Department of Public Health said that no new cases have been reported for 42 days, which is twice the 21-day incubation period for measles. The outbreak prompted a heated debate over anti-vaccination views as officials partially attributed the spread to hesitance by some parents to get measles vaccines for their children.
The outbreak started in Disneyland in December and infected 131 Golden State residents. Officials said that 42 of those cases were directly linked to exposure at Disneyland or Disney California Adventure Park.
California wasn’t the only state dealing with measles, although it had by far the most cases, according to figures fro the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. From January to April 10 there were 159 cases spread across 18 states and the District of Columbia, CDC said.
CDC officials have emphasized to the public that the best way to avoid the measles outbreak is to get vaccinated.
The outbreak shed light on the anti-vaxxer movement, a coalition of parents who decline to get vaccines for their children for a variety of diseases, including measles, for fear of adverse health effects.
