Measles cases continue to rise in Southern California

ANAHEIM, Calif. (KABC) -- The measles outbreak in Southern California is growing. Public health officials confirmed 62 cases of the virus on Thursday.

San Diego County officials said three probable cases of measles that were reported on Monday have now been confirmed as positive.

Adding that to the 59 cases already confirmed by the California Department of Public Health on Wednesday brings the total to 62.

More than 40 of these cases have been linked to Disneyland or Disney California Adventure.

List of potential exposure locations and times

In addition to San Diego, measles cases have been confirmed in the following health jurisdictions: Alameda, Los Angeles, Long Beach, Orange, Pasadena, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Mateo, Santa Clara and Ventura.

Pregnant women, people with weakened immune systems, children under 6 years old and those who are not vaccinated have the highest risk of catching the virus.

The 62 patients in California range in age from 7 months to 70 years old, and the majority were not vaccinated.

What is very concerning is that even people who have been vaccinated can still be infected. The measles, mumps and rubella, or MMR, vaccine is a two-part vaccine. The problem is - not everyone receives both doses.

The MMR vaccine is first given at 12 months. Then, a second or booster shot is given between four to six years of age. That takes eight days to become effective.

Measles is highly contagious. A patient is carrying the virus four days prior to displaying a rash. Experts say the measles virus can live on surfaces up to two hours.

Symptoms include cough, runny nose, red eyes and a red-spotted rash. Measles can lead to pneumonia, brain damage and death. From 2001 to 2013, 28 percent of young children who had measles had to be hospitalized.

For more information about measles, visit publichealth.lacounty.gov/ip/DiseaseSpecific/Measles.htm.