Measles outbreak spreads beyond theme parks

SACRAMENTO, California (WPVI) -- Health officials say a measles outbreak at first linked to two California theme parks is spreading beyond them - 59 cases are now confirmed since the end of December 2014.

The latest confirmed cases are in Oregon and Mexico.

Of the confirmed cases, 42 have been linked to the initial exposures in December at the theme parks in Anaheim, California.

5 of those are Disney employees.

However, Orange County, California has at least 6 cases with no connection to the parks.

2 dozen students at Huntingdon Beach high school have been sent home till the end of the month, because they aren't vaccinated - an infected student was at the school earlier this month.

Student Skylar Davis describes what happened, "One kid came to the school with the measles, not knowing it. And then he felt really sick, so he went to the hospital later, and they told him he had measles. He's like - Oh, my god. Then he had to notify the class, and every single person he was sitting around had to leave the school.""

"I'm surprised to hear that kids don't have their immunizations," said parent Hong Lam.

"I thought that was a requirement, and if it is, why are they allowed to go to school without it."

Parents CAN opt out of vaccinations because of personal beliefs, or on medical grounds.

But doctors say the big pool of unvaccinated people is fueling this outbreak.

Measles is a highly infectious, airborne disease that typically begins with fever, cough, runny nose and red eyes. Within a few days a red rash appears, usually first on the face and then spreading downward to the rest of the body.