World’s Most Contagious Infectious Disease Outbreak at Disney, Officials Notify All of Contamination

Orange County health officials confirmed Saturday that a second measles case has been identified in 2026, this time involving an international traveler who visited Disneyland Resort on Wednesday, January 28. The announcement comes just days after Orange County reported its first measles case of the year, also linked to recent international travel, raising concerns about potential community spread of the highly contagious viral illness.

The OC Health Care Agency received notification from both the California Department of Public Health and the Los Angeles Department of Public Health that the infected individual arrived in California through Los Angeles International Airport before traveling to Orange County.

Health officials have identified specific exposure windows at Disneyland Resort that could put other visitors at risk, including a three-hour window at Goofy’s Kitchen in the Disneyland Hotel and the remainder of the day at both Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park.

The timing and location of these potential exposures have prompted urgent public health warnings for anyone who visited the resort that day. Measles is one of the most contagious diseases known to medicine, capable of remaining airborne for up to two hours after an infected person leaves a space.

This characteristic makes crowded tourist destinations like theme parks particularly vulnerable to transmission events, as thousands of guests from around the world congregate in enclosed spaces and outdoor areas throughout the day.

Health officials are working closely with Disneyland Resort management to identify and contact employees who may have been exposed during the identified time windows. The collaboration extends to Los Angeles County health authorities and LAX officials, recognizing that the traveler’s journey through the airport and subsequent visit to Orange County created multiple potential exposure points across Southern California.

Exposure Locations and Timeframes

According to the OC Health Care Agency, people may have been exposed to measles at the following specific locations and times on Wednesday, January 28, 2026. Goofy’s Kitchen, the character dining restaurant located inside the Disneyland Hotel, represents a potential exposure site from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

The three-hour window at this popular breakfast and lunch destination means dozens of families and Disney Resort guests may have been in close proximity to the infected traveler during a meal service.

Later that same day, both Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park became potential exposure sites from 12:30 p.m. until the parks closed that evening. This extended timeframe covering multiple hours of park operations significantly increases the number of people who may have been exposed, as the infected individual moved through attractions, restaurants, shops, and walkways alongside thousands of other guests.

Health officials emphasize that anyone present at these locations during the specified times should consider themselves potentially exposed and take appropriate precautions. The 21-day incubation period means people who visited Disneyland Resort on January 28 need to remain vigilant for symptoms through mid-February.

What Exposed Visitors Should Do

The OC Health Care Agency has issued specific recommendations for anyone who visited the identified exposure locations during the timeframes listed.

First, visitors should verify their immunity status by checking with their healthcare provider about whether they have received the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccine. Many adults may not remember their childhood vaccination history, making it essential to confirm immunity through medical records or antibody testing.

For people whose exposure occurred less than seven days ago, health officials recommend speaking with a healthcare provider about vaccination or immune globulin for prevention. Immune globulin is particularly recommended for certain high-risk groups including infants under 12 months old, pregnant people without immunity to measles, and individuals with weakened immune systems who cannot receive the standard MMR vaccine.

All potentially exposed individuals should monitor themselves for fever or unexplained rash between seven and 21 days after the exposure date. These symptoms represent the typical presentation of measles and require immediate medical attention.

However, health officials stress the importance of calling your healthcare provider before visiting a medical facility if you suspect measles infection. This precaution prevents exposing other patients and healthcare workers in waiting rooms and examination areas.

Understanding Measles Transmission and Symptoms

Measles spreads through airborne transmission when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes, releasing viral particles that can remain suspended in the air for extended periods. The virus can also spread through direct contact with infectious droplets on surfaces, though airborne transmission represents the primary concern in settings like theme parks where air circulation and crowd density create optimal conditions for disease spread.

Initial symptoms of measles include fever, cough, runny nose, and red eyes. These early signs appear before the characteristic measles rash develops, meaning infected individuals can spread the disease before they realize they are sick. The rash typically begins on the face before spreading downward across the body, appearing three to five days after initial symptoms start.

People who have not been immunized against measles face a high risk of developing symptoms seven to 21 days after exposure. The MMR vaccine, administered in two doses, provides effective protection against measles, and health officials consider fully vaccinated individuals protected from infection even after exposure.

Orange County’s Second Case in Days

This latest measles case represents Orange County’s second confirmed infection of 2026, following Wednesday’s announcement of a case in a young adult who had also recently traveled internationally. The proximity of these two cases, both linked to international travel, underscores the ongoing risk of measles importation into communities with incomplete vaccination coverage.

Deputy County Health Officer Dr. Anissa Davis addressed the broader implications of these cases in a statement released by the health agency. “Measles doesn’t only affect people who travel internationally, everyone is at risk if they’re not protected,” Davis said. “Because measles is highly contagious, it can spread quickly within communities, even among those who haven’t traveled. The best way to protect yourself and your loved ones is to get vaccinated before exposure occurs.”

The health department’s emphasis on community-wide vaccination reflects concern that measles can spread rapidly in populations with immunity gaps. Unlike some diseases that require prolonged close contact for transmission, measles can infect people who simply share air space with an infected individual, making herd immunity through high vaccination rates essential for community protection.

Public Health Response Continues

The HCA Communicable Disease Control Division is coordinating with multiple agencies to manage potential exposures from this case. Disneyland Resort officials are working with health authorities to identify employees who may have been exposed during their shifts on January 28.

This employee notification process is critical because theme park cast members interact with thousands of guests daily and could potentially spread measles to vulnerable populations if they become infected.

Coordination with Los Angeles County health officials and LAX authorities extends the exposure investigation beyond Orange County’s borders, recognizing that the infected traveler’s path through Southern California created potential exposure points across multiple jurisdictions.

If you were at Disneyland or Goofy’s Kitchen on January 28, don’t panic but definitely check your vaccination records and watch for symptoms over the next few weeks. Share this with anyone you know who was there that day because getting the word out could literally save lives.