POLK COUNTY, Fla. — As health officials continue tracking the spread of measles in South Florida, a case has appeared in the Tampa Bay area.
According to data from the Florida Department of Health last updated on Feb. 25, there have been nine reported measles cases throughout the state — eight in Broward County and one in Polk County. While health officials have not shared many details about the Polk County case, a notice from the health department said it was "travel-related."
The "cluster" of cases in Broward County has been linked to Manatee Bay Elementary School in Weston, about 40 miles north of Miami.
First, one student reported a measles diagnosis, believed to be contracted locally. The next day, three more cases within the same school were confirmed.
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, Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo explained in a letter.
The letter goes on to say that kids are normally recommended to stay home "until the end of the infectious period" but due to the high immunity rate in the community, "DOH is deferring to parents or guardians to make decisions about school attendance."
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."
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.