2 More Contract Measles In Pinellas County

PINELLAS COUNTY, FL -- The Florida Department of Health in Pinellas County is now investigating three cases of measles.

On Aug. 13, the DOH announced an unvaccinated child was diagnosed with the disease. This was the first case of measles in the county since 1998.

On Wednesday, Aug. 15, the DOH announced that two more people in the same household have contracted the disease. Both of these people also were unvaccinated. The Department of Health-Pinellas believes all three were exposed to the disease locally but the source has not been identified.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, these cases may be the tip of the iceberg.

The CDC is reporting cases of measles in 21 states.

DOH-Pinellas is working with community health care partners to identify and notify people who were potentially exposed to the disease by the three people in Pinellas County.

"We are continuing to investigate, but we would like families to know that their children could be exposed to diseases like measles anywhere,” said DOH-Pinellas Director Dr. Ulyee Choe, an infectious disease specialist. “Unless they're protected with vaccination, they are risking potentially serious health effects for their child. We encourage all parents to fully vaccinate their children to protect them from diseases like measles."

Measles is a virus that is easily spread by air droplets when infected people breathe, cough or sneeze. The first symptoms are a high fever that may spike to 105 degrees, cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes. These symptoms are followed by a blotchy rash that spreads from the head to the feet.

Measles is a potentially severe disease, especially young children and people with compromised immune systems. Complications can include pneumonia, encephalitis and death.

Nationwide, at least 107 cases have been identified, according to the CDC. Those cases are in Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas and Washington.

In 2017, 118 people from 15 states and the District of Columbia were reported to have measles, according to the CDC, so the number of 2018 cases should easily outpace last year's total. In 2016, 86 people from 19 states were reported to have measles.

The majority of people who got measles were unvaccinated, according to the CDC.

The symptoms of measles generally appear about seven to 14 days after a person is infected. The best way to protect yourself and those you love against measles is to get vaccinated. Two doses of measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine are recommended routinely for children, with the first dose at age 12 through 15 months and the second dose at ages 4 through 6 years.

Adults should be vaccinated with at least one dose of MMR vaccine, with a second dose recommended for those at higher risk such as international travelers and health care workers.

Unvaccinated individuals who are exposed to measles may be excluded for up to 21 days from public places, such as school and work, where they could infect others

For more information, click here.

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