AP: Disneyland emailed California health officials to downplay measles risk after outbreak

While there is no evidence that Disneyland was anything less than fully cooperative in seeking to address the measles outbreak, the emails show that concern over its brand were a top priority during the crisis.

A surprising report from the Associated Press suggests that Disneyland executives sent emails to California health officials asking them to emphasize that the theme park was not responsible for a recent measles outbreak.

The AP obtained documents that indicated a series of emails had been sent to health officials seeking to protect the Disneyland brand, which dubs itself the “Happiest Place on Earth,” from bad publicity after a measles outbreak sickened more than 70 people in California and two dozen others in other states, according to an AP report.

While the report notes that there is no evidence the company or health officials actively tried to downplay the seriousness of the outbreak, and that it wasn’t unusual for companies to try to get public officials to cooperate during a crisis, it does show that there isn’t the amount of separation between the two entities that many people might expect.

One Disneyland official asked the state to clarify that the park wasn’t responsible for the outbreak, and another official wanted the state to note that it was OK for those who have been vaccinated to visit the theme park, and health officials complied by updating their website.

Although measles was declared eradicated back in 2000, it has reemerged due to a recent fringe movement against vaccinations, which subscribes to scientifically discredited rumors that they can cause autism in children.

A Disneyland spokeswoman said on Thursday that the resort had stayed in contact with health authorities to ensure “that factual and accurate information flowed both ways to avoid confusion and properly inform the public.”

However, the emails obtained by the AP suggest that the theme park may have been just as concerned with the impact the crisis was having on its brand.

Still, there is no evidence that Disneyland put anyone in danger with its attempts at softening the message, and Disnelyand’s medical team reportedly worked with health investigators to identify people at risk of contracting the virus, offering employees vaccinations and blood tests to test immunity. Another Disneyland spokesperson also reached out to the health agency to ask them to advise the public that vaccination is the only way to prevent measles.