Disneyland Measles Outbreak News & Updates: Park Claims Not Responsible For Reported Cases

In the wake of the U.S. measles outbreak, which began at Disneyland in California, reports have it that officials from the theme park asked state authorities to tell the public that "The Happiest Place on Earth" was not responsible for the outbreak.

"Disneyland executives sent a series of emails to California health officials asking them to emphasize that the theme park was not responsible for the illnesses and was safe to visit," Mashable said.

"There is no evidence Disneyland - or health officials, who incorporated at least some of Disneyland's suggestions - tried to downplay the seriousness of the outbreak or mislead the public," the site noted. "Nor is it unusual for companies to try to get public officials' ear during a crisis."

However, the emails, which were first reported by The Associated Press, reveal that such a situation can entail a delicate process and that the people running the theme park are very worried about the outbreak's effect on their brand.

Currently, no less than 70 in California has been infected with measles, six of them Disneyland employees.

"About two dozen others in six states, Mexico and Canada have been sickened in the outbreak," Mashable added.

Disneyland's spokesperson Lisa Haines said Thursdsay that the park has coordinated with health officials "in order to ensure that factual and accurate information flowed both ways to avoid confusion and properly inform the public," Time said.

It can be recalled that Dr. Gil Chavez, California's Center for Infectious Diseases deputy director, had said last month that the theme park would actually be "perfectly safe" for those who have been immunized from the highly-contagious disease, according to CNN. This statement appears to be in line with the language Disneyland recommended health officials use in dealing with the outbreak, as also noted in the email exchanges.

"We agree with Dr. Chavez's comments that it is safe to visit Disneyland if you have been vaccinated," affirmed Disney media relations rep Suzi Brown.

The public was first alerted to the measles outbreak on January 7, when officials revealed that "a Disneyland visitor may be linked to at least seven confirmed cases of the measles throughout California and two in Utah," NBC Los Angeles reported. "Doctors suspected the first infected person visited the park sometime between Dec. 15 and Dec. 20, 2014."

"Measles is a respiratory disease caused by a virus and spread through the air," CNN explained. "Measles starts with a fever, runny nose, cough, red eyes and sore throat."

Although this disease had been eliminated in the U.S. by 2000, it resurfaced in the last couple of years due to transmission to unvaccinated Americans from infected people overseas.

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