The measles outbreak tied to Disneyland continued to spread anxiety Friday as two new cases emerged overnight in Marin County in California — along with at least one in Nebraska — while Arizona officials warned that at least 1,000 people may have been exposed to the virus through seven others in that state.
Since Jan. 1, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have confirmed 84 measles cases in 14 states. California’s health department, which is updating a measles count more frequently, has found more than 90 cases in the United States and Mexico so far, with 52 linked to the Disneyland outbreak.
Concern about the highly contagious disease intensified Friday in several states, including Minnesota, where health officials are notifying hundreds of people who may have come into contact with a University of Minnesota student with measles.
There was also anxiety in Arizona, where thousands of people are arriving in Phoenix for the Super Bowl on Sunday. The disease centers are now advising anyone with symptoms not to attend the game.
New York Times journalists would like to hear from parents, particularly those in California and Arizona, who have chosen not to vaccinate their children against measles and other diseases.
“The very large outbreaks we’ve seen around the world often started with a small number of cases,” said Dr. Anne Schuchat, director of the agency’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases.
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Public health officials from across the nation have made appeals in recent days to have their children immunized, and there are signs that the trend away from vaccination may be reversing in at least some locations.
In Maricopa County, Arizona, three clinics have experienced a surge in visitors requesting measles vaccinations for their children, according to health officials, who reported a 50 percent rise in vaccination requests over last year.
The clinics have added nurses, and lines have begun to form. One visitor was a parent from Mesa who had two children, ages 12 and 14, who had not received measles vaccinations.
“If you’re trying to make lemonade out of the situation,” said Jeanene Fowler, a spokeswoman for the county health department, “that’s the best we can ask for.”
Diantha Parker and Timothy Williams contributed reporting.
