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.
