The major outbreak of measles tied to a Disneyland park in California is now over, according to California state health officials.
The outbreak, which infected 147 people in seven states, started in December 2014. No new outbreak-related measles cases were reported to the California Department of Public Health for 42 days, or two 21-day incubation periods.
"We are pleased this outbreak is over, but caution that measles can be reintroduced in California at any time when an infected person brings it to the state," said Karen Smith, MD, director of the CDPH. "The best defense for protection against the highly infectious measles is vaccination."
While the measles outbreak in California may be over, the nation is still facing a large number of measles cases, even though measles elimination was documented in the U.S. in 2000, thanks to a successful vaccination campaign. From January 1 to April 10, 159 measles cases were reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.