A local family has decided to cancel their trip to Disneyland due to the measles outbreak but said the situation was preventable.

Over 70 people in six states and Mexico have fallen sick with the virus since mid-December. Those infected range in age from seven months to 70 years old. It also includes five Disneyland employees.

Emergency room doctor John Bitangcol said his family made the decision because of their newborn child.

“I would rather have the safety knowing that our child won’t be getting infected potentially by a disease that is preventable. And if that means that we don’t go so be it.”

According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, anyone who has not been immunized can get measles but children are at the highest risk.

Bitangcol’s wife, Tina, said she was disappointed in the lack of education amongst parents.

“I would like to see parents make a more educated choice and not go on Google and find out why they shouldn’t get immunizations done.

“It was a totally preventable situation. If everybody that could be immunized gets immunized and their kids get immunized then basically we would have been okay.”

John agreed and said as a doctor he cautions patients about how quickly measles can spread.

“It is probably one of the most highly contagious viruses out there.

“You may not even know you are infected and you could be transmitting it to other people that are susceptible for days before you ever get any symptoms.”

In April of last year, Alberta Health Services declared an outbreak of the virus, which lasted several weeks.

A total of 13 cases were confirmed in Edmonton and 30 cases were confirmed province-wide.

With files from Nicole Weisberg, Associated Press