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Florida has reported the state’s first measles case this yr as different elements of the nation attempt to management a rising outbreak.
The U.S. has recorded greater than 100 circumstances of the illness in 2025, with floor zero Texas reporting the nation’s first measles-related demise in almost a decade.
Now, a Miami-Dade County teen is sick with measles.
The Palmetto Senior Excessive scholar is Florida’s first confirmed case of the illness this yr, in accordance with preliminary information from Florida’s reportable illness surveillance system. In 2024, the state had no less than a dozen circumstances of the rash-causing illness, a few of which have been linked to an outbreak at a Broward elementary college.
The varsity says the chance is low for college kids who’re vaccinated and that it is working with native well being officers to take preventive measures. Generally, the chance of a measles outbreak at Palmetto will largely depend upon what proportion of the scholars, school and workers are vaccinated and whether or not the scholar was in touch with others who weren’t vaccinated. Public well being measures together with sanitation, vaccination and isolating folks thought of to be in danger may also be key in decreasing the chance of unfold.
The extremely contagious illness was eradicated from the U.S. in 2000 following an efficient and robust vaccination program. The vaccine is required to attend Okay–12 college within the U.S., although some college students could have a spiritual or medical exemption. And whereas measles is not widespread, outbreaks can nonetheless occur, normally when an unvaccinated traveler falls unwell abroad and comes into the U.S., spreading the virus to different unvaccinated folks.
“The reason that we don’t get hundreds of cases like we did in the past, before vaccination, is because of vaccination,” mentioned Mary Jo Trepka, professor and chair of the epidemiology division on the Robert Stempel School of Public Well being and Social Work at Florida Worldwide College.
How does measles unfold?
Measles can unfold by means of coughing, sneezing and by touching contaminated surfaces. For many who are vaccinated, an infection is uncommon. For many who beforehand had measles, you possibly can’t get the an infection once more.
Whereas most individuals can get better at residence, measles will be harmful and result in extreme issues in sure at-risk teams who do not have immunity, together with youngsters youthful than 5, adults older than 20, people who find themselves pregnant or who’re immunocompromised, in accordance with the CDC. Problems can embrace pneumonia, mind swelling and untimely beginning. Some folks may get severely unwell and die.
What are the signs?
Measles will be transmitted 4 days earlier than the beginning of signs, in accordance with the Florida well being division. Signs can seem 7 to 14 days after contact with the virus, and are at first just like a traditional chilly and may embrace a cough, runny nostril, pink and watery eyes and a excessive fever of as much as 105 levels.
Then come the pink spots and bumps on the face, spreading downward to the neck, chest, legs, arms and toes. The rash sometimes seems three to 5 days after the primary signs.
To verify measles, a health care provider will normally order a blood take a look at, swab your nostril or throat or have you ever take a urine take a look at.
It may well take 10 to 14 days to get better from the measles if you do not have issues, in accordance with the Mayo Clinic.
Is the measles vaccine efficient?
The measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, or MMR, is necessary to attend all private and non-private childcare and Okay–12 colleges in Florida, though some college students could also be eligible for medical or non secular exemptions.
One dose of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, or MMR, is about 93% efficient, with two doses about 97% efficient, in accordance with the CDC. When you get the two-dose vaccination, you are protected for all times, consultants say.
Children ought to get the primary dose at 12 by means of 15 months of age and the second dose at 4 to six years of age. About 3 of 100 folks vaccinated with two doses will fall unwell if uncovered to the virus, the CDC says.
Is there a danger of a measles outbreak?
The chance of a measles outbreak in Miami-Dade County or at Palmetto Senior Excessive, just like what was seen final yr at Manatee Bay elementary in Weston, will depend upon vaccination charges. The extra folks in a faculty or neighborhood who’re vaccinated with the MMR vaccine, the much less danger there’s for a measles outbreak, in accordance with Trepka, the FIU knowledgeable.
“Because measles is a disease that is so contagious, we have to have extremely high rates of vaccination or we will end up seeing outbreaks,” Trepka mentioned. “There is almost no wiggle room when it comes to measles in terms of vaccination.”
It is advisable that no less than 95% of the inhabitants be vaccinated to assist cut back the chance of measles spreading, in accordance with Trepka. She mentioned this isn’t simply to guard your self towards the illness, however to guard those that haven’t been vaccinated or are unable to get vaccinated. Some folks, together with those that could have a weakened immune system, could not be capable to get the vaccine. And bear in mind, college students do not simply go to high school—in addition they go to grocery shops, film theaters and different areas of the neighborhood.
The Miami Herald has contacted Miami-Dade County Public Faculties to inquire in regards to the vaccination price at Palmetto Senior Excessive and the contaminated scholar’s vaccination standing.
Based mostly on the latest out there state, almost 93% of seventh-graders and almost 91% of kindergartners enrolled in private and non-private colleges in Miami-Dade County in 2023 have obtained their school-required immunizations, not simply the MMR vaccine. It isn’t clear if this information displays accomplished or partially-completed immunizations.
What’s the measles state of affairs in Florida and the remainder of the U.S.?
As of Feb. 27, the nation has reported 164 measles circumstances throughout Alaska, California, Georgia, Kentucky, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York Metropolis, Rhode Island and Texas, in accordance with the CDC. Of those, almost all circumstances have been outbreak-associated and concerned individuals who have been unvaccinated or whose vaccination standing is unknown.
CDC officers have just lately arrived in Texas, which is floor zero of the nation’s present measles outbreak, to assist try to management the unfold of the illness. Most of the circumstances are occurring in a county that’s residence to a big unvaccinated Mennonite inhabitants. The state just lately confirmed that an unvaccinated youngster with no underlying well being circumstances had died from the illness, marking the nation’s first measles demise since 2015 and the primary measles demise in a toddler within the U.S. since 2003, CNN reviews.
As of Wednesday morning, the one measles case reported in Florida concerned a Miami-Dade teen between the ages of 15 and 19, state information exhibits. State well being officers do not know but if the teenager was contaminated in Florida or elsewhere. The coed attends Miami Palmetto Senior Excessive College in Pinecrest. The varsity mentioned it is working to inform mother and father of scholars who had shut contact with the contaminated scholar.
What to do if uncovered or identified
When you’re vaccinated for measles, it is uncommon that you’re going to fall unwell, however it’s best to nonetheless notify your physician and monitor for signs. Nevertheless, in case you’re not vaccinated or have by no means beforehand had measles, converse together with your physician about getting the MMR vaccine.
Trepka says youngsters and adults who have been uncovered to somebody with measles who usually are not vaccinated ought to get the MMR vaccine instantly to cut back the chance of an infection. When you get the vaccine inside 72 hours of preliminary publicity, it may present some safety towards the illness or assist you may have a milder sickness, the CDC says. Your physician may also decide to present you a drugs known as immunoglobulin inside six days of publicity to cut back your danger of extreme sickness.
Well being consultants advocate folks contact their physician for steering in the event that they have been uncovered to measles. Do not present as much as the physician with out notifying the workplace beforehand to cut back the chance of exposing others. Telehealth appointments are another choice. South Florida medical doctors the Miami Herald spoke with final yr additionally advisable folks keep away from visiting the ER for a prognosis until they’ve one other medical emergency to cut back the chance of spreading the illness to different high-risk folks.
In case you have measles, the CDC recommends staying residence for 4 days after creating the rash to cut back your danger of spreading the virus to others. And comply with the COVID protocols: Wash your arms regularly, cowl your mouth and nostril with a tissue once you cough or sneeze, do not share drinks or consuming utensils and disinfect regularly touched surfaces.
As a result of measles is a virus, the physique must battle it off, Dr. Ronald Ford, chief medical officer at Joe DiMaggio Youngsters’s Hospital in Hollywood, instructed the Herald throughout final yr’s measles scare. These sick with measles want to remain hydrated, wash their arms regularly and take fever-reducing remedy as wanted to assist them really feel higher.
2025 Miami Herald. Distributed by Tribune Content material Company, LLC.
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Are you in danger for measles? Miami sees case amid US outbreak. What to know in Florida (2025, March 5)
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