







window._taboola = window._taboola || []; _taboola.push({ mode: 'thumbnails-c', container: 'taboola-interstitial-gallery-thumbnails-5', placement: 'Interstitial Gallery Thumbnails 5', target_type: 'mix' });









window._taboola = window._taboola || []; _taboola.push({ mode: 'thumbnails-c', container: 'taboola-interstitial-gallery-thumbnails-10', placement: 'Interstitial Gallery Thumbnails 10', target_type: 'mix' });







window._taboola = window._taboola || []; _taboola.push({ mode: 'thumbnails-c', container: 'taboola-interstitial-gallery-thumbnails-13', placement: 'Interstitial Gallery Thumbnails 13', target_type: 'mix' });



















Photo: CBS Los Angeles Image 1 of / 14 Caption Close Image 2 of 14 The United States is in the midst of a measles outbreak that began in Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif. The United States is in the midst of a measles outbreak that began in Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif. Photo: CBS Los Angeles Image 3 of 14 In early February Mobius was diagnosed with measles. In early February Mobius was diagnosed with measles. Image 4 of 14 Because Mobius is only 4 months old, he hasn't received the MMR vaccine administered at 1 year. Because Mobius is only 4 months old, he hasn't received the MMR vaccine administered at 1 year. Photo: Courtesy of the Loops Image 5 of 14 Image 6 of 14 Red spots appeared all over Mobius' body. Red spots appeared all over Mobius' body. Photo: Courtesy of the Loops Image 7 of 14 The Loops think Mobius probably caught the measles at Disneyland. The Loops think Mobius probably caught the measles at Disneyland. Photo: Courtesy of the Loops Image 8 of 14 Mobius ran a 102 degree temperature while infected with the measles. This was while taking Tylenol. Mobius ran a 102 degree temperature while infected with the measles. This was while taking Tylenol. Photo: Courtesy of the Loops Image 9 of 14 Ariel Loop says Mobius was lucky because his case of the measles was much milder than it could have been. Ariel Loop says Mobius was lucky because his case of the measles was much milder than it could have been. Photo: Courtesy of the Loops Image 10 of 14 Image 11 of 14 Mobius paid a visit to the emergency room when his mom first noticed red bumps on his skin. Doctors treated him in a negative pressure room. Mobius paid a visit to the emergency room when his mom first noticed red bumps on his skin. Doctors treated him in a negative pressure room. Photo: CBS Los Angeles Image 12 of 14 Mobius' mother, Ariel Loop, wrote on Facebook: "During the four days he was contagious before his rash appeared, we went out to eat twice, ran countless errands, and have potentially infected other kids who are too young to have to go through this. That kills me. And might kill one of them." less Mobius' mother, Ariel Loop, wrote on Facebook: "During the four days he was contagious before his rash appeared, we went out to eat twice, ran countless errands, and have potentially infected other kids who ... more Photo: CBS Los Angeles Image 13 of 14 Christopher and Ariel Loop hope their story will encourage more parents to vaccinate their children. Christopher and Ariel Loop hope their story will encourage more parents to vaccinate their children. Photo: CBS Los Angeles Image 14 of 14 California parents outraged after 4-month-old baby catches measles 1 / 14 Back to Gallery

Mobius is up-to-date on all the childhood vaccinations recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics but since he’s only 4 months old, he has yet to receive the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine that’s administered at 1 year.

This became a problem when Mobius’ parents brought him to Disneyland on January 18 for a family outing. In case you’ve been hiding under a rock the past two months, the United States is in the midst of a measles outbreak (121 cases reported so far) that began in Disneyland.

An initial outbreak occurred in December 2014 and the Loops were aware of the situation, but the parents, who are season pass holders, figured they were safe to bring their son to the park by mid-January. Measles aren’t supposed to be a concern due to vaccination programs, and, in fact, the disease was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000. Unfortunately, it’s suspected that Disneyland experienced a much smaller outbreak in mid-January when five employees reported having the measles, and the Loops assume this is where their son was exposed, yet they don’t know for certain.

“Measles symptoms usually start about 14 days after exposure,” Ariel shared with SFGate, “and exactly two weeks after visiting Disneyland, red marks started appearing on Mobius’ body.”

Many experts believe the outbreak was a result of the increasing number of parents who opt to skip vaccinations over concerns of adverse side effects, even though medical studies have proven these to be nonexistent or rare. Dr. James Cherry, a specialist in pediatric infectious diseases at the University of California, Los Angeles, told The New York Times the outbreak was “100 percent connected” to the anti-immunization campaign. “It wouldn’t have happened otherwise — it wouldn’t have gone anywhere,” he said. “There are some pretty dumb people out there.”

Some two weeks after the visit, Ariel, who’s a registered nurse, knew something was wrong when she couldn’t get Mobius to bed one night. He was cranky and itching his eyes.

“And then the next morning when he woke up, he was super hot and he had the bumps on his chest and the back of his head,” she told CBS Los Angeles.

The parents rushed their son to the emergency room, calling ahead to let the hospital know they were bringing in a highly contagious measles case. Going in through the backdoor, the Loops were escorted into a negative-pressure room where doctors conducted a blood test. Four days later, the tests revealed that Mobius had the measles.

The Loops watched their son suffer from fevers, congestion and a cough for several days.

“Every time he’d breathe, his whole chest and body would just like rattle,” Ariel told CBS Los Angeles.

“He spent several days naked and in out of the bath because his body was so hot,” Ariel told SFGate. “His temperature never went over 102 degrees as we gave him Tylenol.”

Mobius is no longer contagious and recovering. “He still has a lingering cough and his eyes continue to itch,” Ariel told SFGate.

Now, the Loops are concerned that they exposed many other people to the measles as their son was contagious for four full days before the first signs of the condition when they were out and about town.

“I have a lot of mixed feelings right now, but ultimately I’m relieved that Mobius is doing so well,” Ariel shared in a Facebook post. “The horrific cough aside, he’s doing way better than anyone expected at this point.

“However, I’m furious that we’re now part of the problem. While he’s up to date with his vaccines, at 4 months he isn’t old enough for the one that should have made this whole outbreak almost impossible.

“During the four days he was contagious before his rash appeared, we went out to eat twice, ran countless errands, and have potentially infected other kids who are too young to have to go through this. That kills me. And might kill one of them.

“I understand that vaccines are scary. Having to hold him tight while a stranger hurts him is hard. Having three people hold him still to get the blood to test him for measles, however, was infinitely harder.”

The Loops are sharing their story in hopes of encouraging parents to vaccinate their children. A friend shared their story on Facebook and it was shared thousands of times.

“Breastfeeding or formula? Or cloth versus paper? This isn’t a very personal choice. When you’re making this choice, you are putting others at risk,” Christopher told CBS Los Angeles.

“We have one friend who contacted us to say that she was anti-vaccination and now plans to vaccinate her child. We got one person,” Ariel told SFGate.

Related story: Roald Dahl’s heart-wrentching pro-vaccination letter reemerges as measles cases surge

Got a compelling parenting story for the Mommy Files? Email moms@sfgate.com.