DUVAL COUNTY, Fla. – New measles cases in Florida prompted concern for a Jacksonville doctor as the state now has 10 confirmed cases, according to Florida Health data.
Measles is a viral contagious infection that can be easily contracted from someone coughing and sneezing.
Children younger than five, adults younger than 20, pregnant women, and people with weaker immune systems have a higher risk of getting it.
Dr. Samidha Bhat of HCA Florida said kids typically get the virus.
“Maybe the immunity is not very well in the kids and therefore we see more in children as compared to adults,” Bhat said.
Once contracted it starts with a fever, leading to a cough, runny nose, and red eyes. Then a rash and tiny spots. Other complications can range from ear infections to brain swelling and death.
While there are not reported cases in Northeast Florida, Bhat said that not being vaccinated is a concern.
“Not being vaccinated is always a concern especially in children because they are the ones who get it from schools and all those places,” Bhat said.
News4JAX asked everyday people in Jacksonville if they were vaccinated. Although they didn’t talk on camera, some said they and their children were vaccinated while others were not.
“I was part of the 1988 measles epidemic in Northern California. I was 35 years old. I never knew I was unvaccinated. It was devastatingly life-changing. My personality changed. My liver and my brain were affected. I became jaundiced and got encephalitis. I’ve never been the same. I could go on. Please, get your children (and yourself) vaccinated,” A News4JAX Insider said.
Most Americans are vaccinated as a child so some can’t remember when it happened, but there is a way to check.
The CDC has created a questionnaire on its website to determine if you should be vaccinated for measles or not.
There’s been an effort to reduce cases in the United States through vaccinations since 1963 before it started. Millions contracted and hundreds died every year. Now the cases are in the double digits.
With the most recent Florida case this week, health officials want parents to consider getting their child(ren) vaccinated.
According to the CDC, there were:
- 58 measles cases in 2023
- 121 measles cases in 2022
- 49 measles cases in 2021
To get the MMR vaccine, you can contact the health department or your doctor.
UPDATE:
Grant Kemp, the Deputy Press Secretary for the Department of Health sent the following statement regarding the measles outbreak:
“Good afternoon,
You have recently covered the measles outbreak in Florida. As such, please see the statement below as of February 28, 2024.
While details of epidemiological investigations are confidential, many media outlets are reporting false information and politicizing this outbreak. To ensure the communities we serve are correctly informed, we are providing Floridians with the following clarifying information:
- 97% of students at Manatee Bay Elementary have received at least one dose of the MMR immunization. Outbreaks are occurring in multiple states, and the national immunization rate for measles is less than 92%.
- When measles is detected in a school, it is recommended that individuals without history of prior infection or vaccination stay home for up to 21 days. This is the period of time that the virus can be transmitted. This recommendation has been made at Manatee Bay Elementary. There have not been any additional cases present at Manatee Bay Elementary since February 15, 2024. As such, the end of the infectious period is still March 7, 2024. This may change as epidemiological investigations continue.
- The Department has also worked with Manatee Bay Elementary to educate parents on measles and ensure that any parent who is concerned for their child, regardless of their immunization status, may choose to keep their children home and utilize continuous learning during this time.
The Department is dedicated to protecting all Floridians as investigations continue. Due to the high immunity rate, as well as the burden on families and educational cost of healthy children missing school, the Surgeon General’s current guidance ensures that parents or guardians are able make the best decisions for their families regarding school attendance. I have attached a copy of the Surgeon General’s letter alongside the fact sheet provided to parents at Manatee Bay Elementary regarding measles.”