Measles Confirmed in Florida

Florida has logged its first confirmed case of measles in 2015.

News of the confirmation comes out of St. Lucie County on the state’s east coast where a 6-year-old child, who was not vaccinated against the highly contagious disease, has contracted it, the Florida Department of Health reported in a media release. Health department officials there are now working with the county’s school district to inform parents about the confirmed case.

“Measles is a very serious disease,” St. Lucie County Health Officer Clint Sperber was quoted in the release as saying. “It is important for all residents to contact their doctor and make sure they have received the measles vaccination to protect themselves and others. The best way to protect yourself and others against this disease is to get vaccinated.”

Until this week, the state of Florida had no confirmed cases of the disease on record during the period of Jan. 1 to April 10, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported on its outbreak map. During that timeframe, 159 people from 18 states and the District of Columbia contracted the disease, the CDC reported. Most of those cases were linked to an outbreak at a California amusement park.

Back in January, four measles cases were identified in travelers who visited Florida. Two of those cases involved international travelers, health department officials noted at the time. The St. Lucie County case is the first confirmed case of 2015 involving a resident of the state.

See Also:

• Measles a Growing Concern for Florida Health Officials
• CDC: Adults Need Immunizations, Too

Measles is a highly contagious respiratory virus that is transmittable through the air. Symptoms typically begin within seven to 14 days of exposure and may include:

• A blotchy rash
• Fever
• Cough
• Runny nose
• Watery eyes
• Fatigue

The CDC estimates that three out of 10 people who get the measles develop complications that may include pneumonia, ear infections and diarrhea.

Once declared eradicated, measles has been on the rebound in recent years, the CDC states.

“The United States experienced a record number of measles cases during 2014, with 644 cases from 27 states reported to CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD),” the agency’s website states. “This is the greatest number of cases since measles elimination was documented in the U.S. in 2000.”

The majority of people who contract measles are unvaccinated, according to the CDC.

For more information about measles, visit the health department’s website.

Image via Shutterstock

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