The US is battling one of its largest-scale outbreaks of the infectious disease since it was officially eliminated over two decades ago.

12:26, Tue, Feb 3, 2026 Updated: 12:31, Tue, Feb 3, 2026

Inside Walt Disney Co.'s Disneyland Park Ahead Of Earnings Figures

Thousands could have been exposed to the infectious virus (Image: Getty)

Thousands of visitors to Disneyland theme parks have been warned they may have contracted a highly contagious virus as the US battles its worst outbreak in decades. An international traveller with a confirmed case of measles could have infected holidaymakers across the resort in Anaheim, California, officials have warned. They travelled from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to the flagship Disney park, visiting Goofy's Kitchen in Disneyland Hotel between 10:30am and 1:30pm on January 28, and Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park from 12:30pm to 9pm on the same day.

The Orange County Healthcare Agency (HCA) said travellers at LAX Terminal B may also have been exposed to the viral infection between 10:45pm and 1am on January 27. Anyone in the vicinity of the infected party has been urged to check their immunity status and monitor symptoms, as the US battles one of its highest measles outbreak rates since the disease was officially eliminated in 2000.

Measles virus, illustration

Measles is one of the most infectious diseases in the world (Image: Getty)

Disneyland Park, which first opened in July 1955, welcomes around 47,500 visitors each day, while Disney California Adventure Park has roughly 27,500.

An official statement from the HCA said: "People who were at these locations during the date and time listed may be at risk of developing measles from 7 to 21 days after being exposed."

While vaccine-treatable, measles is one of the most contagious diseases in the world, and transmission often occurs in the four-day period before the recognisable rash appears and people realise they're infected.

The US has recorded a spike in cases over the last year, with more than 2,200 reports during 2025, around half of the total known infections in the last 25 years.

If an outbreak, one of which killed two children and infected hundreds of others in Texas last year, is transmitted without interruption for 12 months, the US could lose its elimination status.

Commentators have suggested the rise could be linked to growing vaccine scepticism and disinformation shared online. The disease is also on the rise in the UK, and the World Health Organisation revoked Britain's measles-free status.

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Dr Adam Ratner, a pediatric infectious disease specialist, told the LA Times: "Measles is incredibly contagious, and it is the thing that comes first when you take your foot off the gas, in terms of trying to keep vaccination levels up.

"Nothing has changed about how safe the MMR vaccines are ... or how well they work. It is all the messaging. And I'm very concerned that that is speeding up, not slowing down."