United States: In the United States, health officials have been increasingly worried about measles infections. The Florida Department of Health has joined this concern, initiating an investigation at an elementary school in Broward County.
The investigation was prompted by multiple cases reported at the school. Broward County Public Schools confirmed the presence of at least four measles cases at Manatee Bay Elementary School over the weekend. However, it wasn’t specified whether those affected were students, teachers, or other staff members at the school located in Weston.
The investigation started after a third-grader, who hadn’t recently traveled, was diagnosed with measles at the school. Parents and teachers were notified of the situation on Friday.
Following the detection of cases, the Health Department released a statement emphasizing their collaboration with various partners, including Broward County Public Schools and local hospitals, to identify individuals at risk of transmission. Health care providers in the area have also been alerted.
Measles is highly contagious and can linger in the air for up to two hours. Those who are immunocompromised and unvaccinated are at a high risk of contracting the virus, with a contraction rate of up to 90 percent.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), common symptoms of measles, such as rash and fever, typically appear 8 to 14 days after infection. Children under the age of five are particularly susceptible to severe health complications from measles.
The virus remains transmissible even four days after the onset of rash, and other symptoms include a runny nose, cough, and red, watery eyes. Approximately 20% of measles cases in the United States may require hospitalization, with one in 1,000 individuals facing the risk of brain swelling and subsequent damage. Unfortunately, one in three cases out of every 1,000 may result in death.
The Health Department is urging the public to get vaccinated against measles to curb its spread. The measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine is highly effective, with a 99 percent success rate. However, vaccination rates in the United States have declined recently, posing a challenge in preventing outbreaks. Florida currently has a vaccination rate of 91.7 percent against measles.