Officials from the Department of Public Health in California are currently looking into the strange case of measles infections tied to one of the country's most popular theme parks, Business Week reported.
According to health officials, a total of nine individuals who contracted the disease were at Disneyland or Disney California Adventure Park between Dec. 15 and Dec. 20, 2014.
The Department of Health speculated that a person infected with the disease may have visited the parks which then led to the spread of measles to other visitors.
Although measles has been eliminated in the U.S. through vaccines, outbreaks are still reported in different parts of the world. The health department thinks the person who caused the spread of the disease at the theme parks may have contracted the virus outside the United States, according to CNN.
"Travelers to areas where measles is endemic can bring measles back to the U.S., resulting in limited domestic transmission of measles," The California Department of Health said in a statement.
"Disneyland and other theme parks in California are international attractions and visitors come from many parts of the world, including those where measles is endemic," the agency continued.
Due to the link between the measles cases and the theme parks, the Walt Disney Parks and Resorts stated that it is currently working with California's health agency regarding the matter.
"We are working with the health department to provide any information and assistance we can," the company's chief medical officer Dr. Pamela Hymel said in a statement.
The Department of Health noted that the nine patients infected with measles reside in California and Utah.
Although there are no official reports yet about a possible outbreak, the agency fears these individuals may have caused the spread of the disease in areas they visited after going to the Disney theme parks, the LA Times reported.
"If you have symptoms, and believe you may have been exposed, please contact your healthcare provider," California state health officer Ron Chapman announced. "The best way to prevent measles and its spread is to get vaccinated."
