Authorities Alarmed When Person With Measles Spends Entire Day Frolicking Around Universal Studios

An alarming measles outbreak unfolded this year in the United States, with officials expressing concern after a measles-infected individual was seen at Universal Studios Hollywood for an entire day. The Los Angeles County Public Health Department issued a warning, advising that anyone who visited the theme park on July 26 between 10 am and 9 pm may have been exposed.

Visitors were urged to monitor themselves for symptoms, including fever, cough, or rash, and to remain vigilant until August 16. Measles is highly contagious, spreading through the air by simply talking or breathing and remaining on surfaces for extended periods. The measles vaccine, part of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) shot, is highly effective, with two doses providing 97% protection against the disease.

Despite the availability of the vaccine since the 1960s, measles cases have surged recently, with the U.S. recording 2,465 confirmed infections as of last week alone. This year, the U.S. has already surpassed the total number of cases from 2025. The situation is particularly dire in California, where the state has seen at least three localized measles outbreaks this year, although all have since been contained.

The CDC reports 38 new outbreaks in 2026 across the country, with several thousand cases spanning 47 states. Health risks are significant for unvaccinated individuals, with one in five unvaccinated people in the U.S. who contract measles being hospitalized, and one out of 20 children with measles developing pneumonia. One to three out of every 1,000 children infected die from respiratory and neurologic complications.