Uncommon Diseases Making Comeback As Parents Don't Vaccinate Children

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — Outbreaks of mumps and measles are considered uncommon, but last year the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported a huge jump.

On Wednesday, at least nine measles cases were tied to Disneyland visits.

Health officials say in that outbreak, one person came to the park and infected others. But doctors say in many cases, the spread could have been prevented.

Life is pretty carefree for little Jonah during his stroller snooze in McKinley Park. But there's a bit more pressure for his parents as they decide what's best for their son.

As news of measles and mumps outbreaks spread, many are curious why we're seeing diseases resurface that have been under control in the country for more than a decade.

Dr. Dean Blumberg with UC Davis Medical Center, says a potentially deadly disease has made a dramatic comeback recently.

"Measles is one of the most infectious contagious diseases around," he said.

The CDC logged 100 cases in 2001, but that number jumped to 600 in 2014 across the country.

Blumberg says some parents are choosing not to vaccinate their children, and that is one of the main drivers behind the spike.

"They don't believe that measles is a serious disease and they're worried about vaccine adverse effects, and because of that their children a susceptible and they can get the disease and they can transmit to others," he said.

Blumberg says worries linking vaccines to autism are unfounded and parents are putting their kids and the public at risk by not getting vaccinated.

"Measles results in hundreds of thousands of children dying each year worldwide," he said.