Still possible to catch measles at Disney Parks

The measles outbreak that began at Disneyland in December 2014 kept growing into the new year. By Tuesday, January 20, health officials had confirmed 53 cases in the ongoing outbreak — and five Disneyland employees in Anaheim were among the infected, including two who had been vaccinated.

The Orange County Health Care Agency said there was still "ongoing measles transmission at Disneyland," while noting that with the outbreak continuing, the risk of exposure existed across the county, not just at the park.

The news rattled some visitors. Matthew Smith, who had traveled from El Paso, Texas with his family to show his special-needs daughter the Frozen attractions, said the trip wasn't worth risking his daughter's fragile immune system — and the family planned to seek a refund. Smith said the family had called the park before traveling and been told the outbreak had dissipated and it was safe to visit. Disney said it was handling measles-related refund requests case by case. Other visitors were unfazed; one Australian tourist said she felt "pretty safe walking around."

The outbreak — which ultimately infected 147 people across the U.S. — became a landmark moment in the American vaccination debate, with health officials pointing out that measles, declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000, spreads wherever vaccination coverage slips.

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Based on reporting by NBC Los Angeles, January 2015.