Quebec measles cases linked to Disneyland outbreak

Quebec health officialshave confirmed that 10 people in theLanaudire region have measles, linked to a recent outbreak at theDisneyland theme park in California.

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Infected people not vaccinated

The province's director of public health, Dr. HoracioArruda, said two adults and eight children areinfected.

Arrudasaid none of the people with measleshad been vaccinated, for religious or philosophical reasons. He said at least one of the 10 visited Disneyland.

The ministry said the 10 people are members of two families.

Arruda said no schools are affected, but health officials will be following up at a workplace.

He would not specify in which town the people reside, citing confidentiality.

Measles is a highly contagious infection that causes high fever, adistinctive rash and a runny nose; complications can includepneumonia, deafness and death in about one or two cases per 1,000infected individuals.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control said the Disneylandoutbreak has involved 114 cases in seven U.S. states.

Quebec recorded outbreak in 2011

The vaccination issue has returned to the forefront in recent weeks, with a spike in measles cases in Torontoandthe U.S.

The rise is being blamed in part on parents not vaccinating their children.

In 2011, Quebec was hit with the biggest outbreak of measles in North America, recording nearly 700 cases. At that time, doctors said many of those cases were people who had not received the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine.

A major vaccination program was launched, but doctors said there are still parents who choose not to vaccinate their children.

Health officials believe two to three per cent of children in Quebec are not vaccinated.

Children are supposed to be vaccinated at 12 months and receive a booster at 18 months, according to the Quebec government.

Vaccination rates in Quebec