Measles outbreak in Florida grows: What to know about virus flare-ups across the US

A measles outbreak at a Florida elementary school is the latest in a string of flare-ups in nearly a dozen states around the country as health authorities warn of rising cases of the preventable infection.

Health Department officials in Broward County have confirmed at least six cases of measles, a highly contagious viral infection once believed to have been eliminated in the U.S. that often leads to a rash, fever and cough. Measles can be especially dangerous and even deadly for children and babies.

The disease is easily preventable with a regular measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nearly a dozen states have identified cases since December, and outbreaks have occurred in Washington state, Pennsylvania and now Florida.

Broward County Public Schools confirmed the first case on Friday in a third grade student at a Weston elementary school who had no history of travel, the Sun Sentinel reported. On Saturday, officials said the Florida Department of Health was investigating additional cases but did not say whether they involved students, teachers or school staff. A state database indicates there were six cases in Broward County, just north of Miami.

Late Tuesday, John J. Sullivan, a spokesperson for Broward County Schools, said in a statement that the district learned of one additional case, bringing the total number of cases to six at Manatee Bay Elementary School in Weston, about 20 miles west of Fort Lauderdale.

Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo wrote in a letter to Manatee Bay parents Tuesday that in cases with such high likelihood of infection, it's normally recommended that students stay home. The infectious period would likely be over by March 7, though the date could change. The district planned to provide continuous learning to Manatee Bay students whose parents or guardians chose to keep them at home, he said.

"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, (the Department of Health) is deferring to parents or guardians to make decisions about school attendance," Ladapo said. "This recommendation may change as epidemiological investigations continue."

The letter didn't specify the immunity rate Manatee Bay had. The state health department didn't immediately respond to USA TODAY's email request Tuesday night.

Florida's kindergarten vaccination rate was 90.6%, below the national average of 93.1%. School district figures show that 86 students out of nearly 1,100 at Manatee Bay are not vaccinated against measles, CBS Miami reported.

The U.S. has set targets of 95% coverage with measles vaccine. Federal data has shown a large drop in vaccinations and record levels of vaccine exemptions among kindergarteners nationwide.

Vaccination rates have dropped in the U.S., according to a CDC report. The U.S. reached its highest level ever for vaccine exemptions in the 2022-23 school year, with about a quarter-million kindergartners at risk to measles exposure. The exemptions are typically for religious, medical or philosophical reasons.

Measles increases: CDC issues alert that measles cases are up, urging health providers to watch for disease

Disease map: See where measles cases are being reported across the US

What is measles?

Measles is a viral infection that can cause a high fever, cough, runny nose and watery eyes seven to 14 days after a person comes in contact with the virus.

Three to five days after symptoms begin, a rash usually breaks out. It often begins as flat red spots on the face at the hairline and spread downward to the neck, trunk, arms, legs and feet, according to the CDC.

When the rash appears, a person’s fever may spike to more than 104 degrees.

Measles spreads through droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It is so contagious that if one person has it, as many as nine out of 10 people around that person will also become infected if they are not vaccinated, according to the CDC. It can linger in the air long after a person has left a room.

How serious is measles?

Measles is especially dangerous for children under 5 and people who are pregnant or have HIV.

About 1 in 5 people who get the infection and are unvaccinated are hospitalized, according to the CDC. One to 3 of every 1,000 children infected with measles will die from respiratory and neurologic complications.

The rise in child cases signals that the U.S. is at a “canary in the coal mine” moment, said Michael Osterholm, director of the University of Minnesota’s Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy.

“We're going to start seeing more and more of these outbreaks,” Osterholm said. “We're going to see more kids seriously ill, hospitalized and even die. And what's so tragic about this, these are all preventable.”

'Growing global threat,' CDC warns

Measles has been considered an "eliminated" virus in the U.S. since 2000.

After nearly two dozen cases were reported in December and January, the CDC urged health providers across the U.S. to better identify patients with signs of measles. Some recent measles cases originated from unvaccinated U.S. residents who travel internationally and transmit the disease to others who aren’t immune.

"The increased number of measles importations seen in recent weeks is reflective of a rise in global measles cases and a growing global threat from the disease," the CDC said at the time.

Is there a vaccine for measles?

Measles is completely preventable if a child receives the vaccine. The CDC recommends children get two doses of the vaccine, starting with the first dose when they are 12 to 15 months old, and the second dose between 4 and 6.

People who have received the full series of the immunizations are 98% protected and are highly unlikely to contract measles, according to the Florida Department of Health.

What should I do if my child shows symptoms of measles?

If you suspect or notice any symptoms of measles, contact your health care provider for instructions on how to safely seek medical attention without exposing other patients.

Officials urge patients to not visit a health care provider without properly contacting the provider ahead of time.

Contributing: Eduardo Cuevas

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Florida measles outbreak revs fears as cases begin to add up in US