TAMPA, Fla. — Florida health officials are now monitoring 10 confirmed measles cases in the state. Just two months into the new year, 2024 has already surpassed last year’s total cases of measles.
Every parent wants to keep their kids happy and healthy. That’s no different for Austin Washington with his two-year-old daughter. So hearing about measles cases popping up in Florida is a concern.
“You always want to protect your children and make sure they have the best environment to grow up and play in, so the spread of the unknown is definitely just something on your mind as a parent all the time,” said Washington.
According to data from the Florida Department of Health, so far this year, there are 10 confirmed measles cases: 9 in Broward County, which are all in children; and one in Polk, reported in an adult in their early 20s.
In all of 2023, there were just two cases reported.
Symptoms can include fever, cough, runny nose, red watery eyes, and rash. According to the CDC, it’s very contagious.
“Measles has a lot of very serious side effects that other diseases don’t necessarily have,” said Dr. Lisa Cronin, a general pediatrician at Children’s Medical Center in Tampa. “One in five children who develop measles will become so sick that they will need to be hospitalized.”
Related: 1st measles case confirmed in Polk County during Florida outbreak
In a letter to parents last week, Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo noted when measles is detected in a school, it’s normally recommended people without history of prior infection or vaccination stay home for up to 21 days, adding that up to 90 percent of people without immunity will contract measles if exposed.
However, Ladapo went on to say the “DOH is deferring to parents or guardians to make decisions about school attendance.”
“It actually has a very long incubation period. The time from you’re exposed to the time you show symptoms can be anywhere from five to 21 days,” said Dr. Cronin.
Cronin said what she’s been telling her patients is if you have a known measles exposure and you aren’t vaccinated, there are two options.
The first is to isolate at home for 21 days.
“The other option is that if you have an exposure and you’re unimmunized, you can actually receive the measles vaccine within 72 hours, and then you’re protected, so the immunity starts to develop and will actually fight off the virus,” said Dr. Cronin.
For parents who are hesitant, Dr. Cronin said make sure you're getting information from a valid scientific source and talk with your pediatrician.
“I think when we can have discussions in a nonjudgmental way and answer each other’s questions, I think that’s when people who are nervous about a certain immunization do begin to feel more comfortable when they understand how it works,” said Dr. Cronin.
Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo released the following statement in response to the recent cases.
There is a cluster of measles cases that has been identified at Manatee Bay Elementary. The Florida Department of Health (DOH) is continuously working with all partners, including Broward County Public Schools and local hospitals, to identify close contacts. Measles can be transmitted four days prior to the start of symptoms. When measles is detected in a school, it is normally recommended that individuals without history of prior infection or vaccination stay home for up to 21 days. This is the period of time that the virus can be transmitted.Individuals with a history of prior infection or vaccination who have received the full series of the Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) immunization are 98% protected and are unlikely to contract measles. Up to 90% of individuals without immunity will contract measles if exposed. Because of the high likelihood of infection, it is normally recommended that children stay home until the end of the infectious period, which is currently March 7, 2024. As the epidemiological investigation continues, this date could change.
However, due to the high immunity rate in the community, as well as the burden on families and educational cost of healthy children missing school, DOH is deferring to parents or guardians to make decisions about school attendance. This recommendation may change as epidemiological investigations continue.
Broward County School District is prepared to provide continuous learning to all children at Manatee Bay Elementary School whose parents/guardians choose to keep them at home. If someone in your household contracts measles, all members of the household should consider themselves exposed and monitor symptoms.
Because your child may have already been exposed, you should watch your child for signs and symptoms of the disease, including a rash that often develops on the face and neck before spreading to the rest of the body. Other symptoms include high fever, which can reach 105°F, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes. All children presenting with symptoms of illness should not attend school until symptoms have fully subsided without medication.
If you suspect or notice any of the above symptoms, contact your health care provider to receive instructions on how to safely seek medical attention prior to visiting a clinic or hospital. This will prevent additional exposure among other patients. Do not abruptly visit your health care provider or DOH-Broward without contacting them ahead of time.
Dr. Cronin recommended information from Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia as a resource for families.
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FAQs
If your child is not yet eligible for the vaccine, prevent infection by avoiding exposure with anyone known or suspected to have measles. Do NOT intentionally expose children to measles. The MMR vaccine is the best and safest way of developing immunity and preventing infection.
What did the surgeon general say about the measles in Florida? ›
The State Surgeon General communicated that people with a history of prior infection or vaccination of the full series of the Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) immunization are 98% protected and are unlikely to contract measles. A holistic approach to public health best serves the community and protects individual liberty.
What caused the measles outbreak in Florida? ›
An outbreak of measles in Florida has grown to 10 cases. Most have been linked to an elementary school with nearly three dozen unvaccinated students. The count includes seven cases tied to the school, two in the same county, and one travel-related case in another county. The situation is likely to get worse.
Is it safe to travel to Florida with a measles outbreak? ›
The virus can spread days before a rash appears. Still, according to experts, most of us are safe to visit the Sunshine State. So if you're vaccinated, it's OK to pack your bags because while you might bring home a sunburn, you're unlikely to bring home a case of the measles.
Did Florida defies CDC in measles? ›
Florida defies CDC in measles outbreak, telling parents it's fine to send unvaccinated kids to school. With a brief memo, Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo has subverted a public health standard that's long kept measles outbreaks under control.
What is the big deal about measles? ›
Measles is a highly contagious disease caused by a virus. It spreads easily when an infected person breathes, coughs or sneezes. It can cause severe disease, complications, and even death.
How contagious is measles? ›
Measles is highly contagious. If one person has it, up to 9 out of 10 people nearby will become infected if they are not protected. The best protection against measles is measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. MMR vaccine provides long-lasting protection against all strains of measles.
What counties in Florida have measles? ›
Related: Amid measles outbreaks, U.K. launches vaccination ad campaign to boost childhood immunizations. There has been measles activity in at least three Florida counties — Broward, Polk, and Orange — in the past month.
Can I get measles if I was vaccinated as a child? ›
About 3 out of 100 people who get two doses of MMR vaccine will get measles if exposed to the virus. However, they are more likely to have a milder illness, and are also less likely to spread the disease to other people.
How did they stop the spread of measles? ›
Between 2000 and 2020, measles vaccination prevented an estimated 31.7 million deaths worldwide. But even though a safe and cost-effective vaccine is available, global measles deaths continued to climb prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine are about 97% effective at protecting against measles. On the rare occasions that fully vaccinated people get the measles, they usually have a milder illness and are less likely to spread it to other people.
Can measles virus live on clothing? ›
No, measles cannot be spread via clothing. When an infected person talks, coughs or sneezes, the virus is released into the air and enters another person's body through the nose, mouth or throat. People can also become sick if they come in direct contact with the mucus or saliva (spit) from an infected person.
Can you still carry measles if vaccinated? ›
If a child has been vaccinated, it is highly unlikely they have measles. Ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111, let them know you suspect measles. Measles can spread to others easily. Call your GP surgery before you go in.
What did the Florida surgeon general say about measles? ›
Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday defended state Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo's response to a measles outbreak in South Florida, which included advising parents that they could continue to send children to class notwithstanding that measles can kill. A letter Ladapo sent to Broward County parents on Feb.
Does Florida require the measles vaccine? ›
The statute only applies to diseases "for which immunization is required by the Department of Health in a Florida public or private school," though measles is among those diseases.
How did the measles outbreak in Florida start? ›
Editorial Note. Editorial Note: This outbreak resulted from an imported measles case in a U.S. citizen who transmitted infection to seven other students in a junior high school.
Who is the surgeon for the measles in Florida? ›
Florida state surgeon general Joseph Ladapo at a press conference held by Governor Ron DeSantis on May 16, 2022, in Sanford, Fla. As a measles outbreak tears though Florida, the state's surgeon general, Joseph Ladapo, is openly rejecting long-proven public health practices.
What's new about measles? ›
Globally, measles cases increased by 79% in 2023, according to the World Health Organization. In 2022, WHO estimated that measles killed more than 130,000—most of them children. In the U.S., during the first two months of 2024, nearly two dozen cases have been reported in California, Arizona and nine other states.
Why is the measles coming back? ›
Measles on the Rise. Measles has recently experienced a resurgence in many parts of the world. Learn about this significant public health challenge and what physicians need to know. Outbreaks have been increasing since 2010, and that's because it's easily imported by unvaccinated travelers.
What is the CDC warning about measles? ›
Measles can live in the air for 2 hours after an infectious person leaves the space. Before any international travel, evaluate if your family needs early vaccine doses. After you return, watch your health for 3 weeks and call your healthcare provider if you or your child gets sick with a rash and fever.
