BROWARD COUNTY, Fla. — As a "cluster" of measles cases has been identified at a South Florida elementary school, state health officials are giving parents the power to decide how to best keep their kids safe.
According to a Feb. 20 letter from Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo, the measles cases were identified at Manatee Bay Elementary in Weston, about 40 miles north of Miami.
While measles is a highly contagious disease, it is preventable through vaccination. People with a full series of Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) immunizations are 98% protected and are unlikely to contract measles, FDOH says.
However, up to 90% of people without immunity will contract measles if exposed, Ladapo's letter continues.
The surgeon general goes on to explain that kids are normally recommended to stay home "until the end of the infectious period" — which, right now, is March 7.
However, due to the high immunity rate in the community, "DOH is deferring to parents or guardians to make decisions about school attendance," Ladapo says in the letter.
This means there is no requirement for kids to stay home from school, regardless of measles infection or vaccination status. Health officials do say that children infected with measles "should not attend school until symptoms have fully subsided without medication."
The Broward County School District said it's prepared to provide learning options for kids whether they go to school or stay home.
Measles symptoms
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the first measles symptoms show 7-14 days after infection. They include:
- High fever (104° or higher)
- Cough
- Runny nose
- Red, watery eyes
2-3 days after symptoms begin, people may see:
- Koplik spots, or tiny white dots inside the mouth
3-5 days after symptoms begin, the measles rash may appear:
- Typically start as flat red spots that appear on the face at the hairline and spread downward to the neck, trunk, arms, legs and feet
What to do if you think your child has measles
If you suspect your child has measles, contact your health provider for instructions on how to safely seek medical attention, FDOH says.
"Do not abruptly visit your health care provider or DOH-Broward without contacting them ahead of time," the letter reads.