- Measles is a highly contagious virus.
- It was considered eliminated in the U.S. in 2000.
- Best way to prevent catching the measles is to be vaccinated.
The measles outbreak in Florida appears to have stabilized, with no new cases reported since late February.
But while the number of measles cases in Florida has remained the same, the numbers across the United States have been increasing.
The Centers for Disease Control reported there have been 41 measles cases in the U.S. as of Feb. 29.
The outbreak has hit 16 states.
How many measles cases have been reported in Florida?
According to the Florida Department of Health, there have been 10 confirmed cases of measles in the state since Feb. 1. Florida has the largest outbreak in the U.S. so far this year.
Nine of the cases were in Broward County. The 10th case was in Polk County.
All 10 were confirmed in February.
What does FDOH know about the measles outbreak in Florida?
The first cases of measles were reported at an elementary school in Broward County, and the majority of infections have been linked back to the school.
Of the 10 cases, the breakdown by age is:
- Ages 0-4: 2
- Ages 5-9: 4
- Ages 10-14: 3
- Ages 20-24: 1
How were the measles acquired in the Florida cases?
Nine of those who got the measles acquired the highly contagious disease in Florida.
It's unknown where the 10th case was acquired.
Joseph Ladapo under fire for measles response
Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapocontradicted federal and medical professional guidelinesto contain the spread of measles after the first reports emerged of the outbreak at the Broward County school.
Ladapowrote in a letter to Manatee Bay parents that when measles is detected in a school, "it is normally recommended that individuals without history of prior infection or vaccination stay home for up to 21 days."
But then he added, "due to the high immunity rate in the community, as well as the burden on families and educational cost of healthy children missing school,(Department of Health) is deferring to parentsor guardians to make decisions about school attendance."
That statement conflicts with federal and medical professional recommendations that children from the school should remain at home to prevent the spread of measles. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends unvaccinated children exposed to measles be isolated for three weeks.
As measles spreads: Top doctor defies CDC recommendations. Who is Florida’s surgeon general?
Measles cases in Florida over past 10 years
How many cases of measles have been confirmed in Florida in the past?
The 10 cases reported so far in 2024 are the most cases in the state since 2018, when there were 15 all year. The Florida Department of Health reports the following number of cases, with 2022 being the most recent posted on its website:
- 2022: None
- 2021: None
- 2020: 1. In Hillsborough.
- 2019: 3. One in Broward, one in Duval, one in Pinellas.
- 2018: 15. Three in Miami-Dade, one in Duval, seven in Pinellas, four in Sarasota.
- 2017: 3. Two in Broward, one in Polk
- 2016: 5. One in Collier, four in Miami-Dade.
- 2015: 5. Three in Indian River, two in St. Lucie.
- 2014: None
- 2013: 7. One in Broward, four in Orange, two in Seminole.
Measles outbreak in US hits 16 states
As of Feb. 29, 2024, there have been a total of 41 measles cases in 16 states, according to the CDC.
The states are: Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York City, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington.
How common is the measles in the US?
Over the past five years, the CDC reported the following number of measles cases:
- 2023: 58 cases in 20 states, including Florida.
- 2022: 121 cases in six states.
- 2021: 49 cases in five states.
- 2020: 13 cases in eight states.
- 2019: 1,274 cases in 31 states, including Florida, but especially in New York among "close-knit" communities.
The CDC reported the measles outbreak in 2019 was the greatest number of cases since 1992, with 89% of the cases in people who were either not vaccinated or their vaccination status was unknown.
CDC issued warning about measles in January
TheCenters for Disease Control urged health-care providersacross the United States to use vigilance with patients in January after 23 cases of the virus were reported between Dec. 1 and Jan. 23.
Measles 'eliminated' in US in 2000
Measles had been declared "eliminated" in the U.S. in 2000, according to the CDC. "That means the disease is no longer constantly present in this country."
The World Health Organization definesmeasles elimination as “the absence of endemic measles virus transmission in a defined geographical area for at least 12 months."
However, measles outbreaks continue to occur around the world so there is always a risk of measles entering the U.S. If it does, it can cause outbreaks among those who are not vaccinated, the CDC said.
"If a measles outbreak continues for a year or more, the United States could lose its measles elimination status."
Signs and symptoms of measles
Measles symptomsfirst appear seven to 14 days after contact with the virus, according to the CDC. Symptoms include:
- High fever, which may spike to more than 104.
- Cough.
- Runny rose.
- Red, watery eyes.
Tiny white spots known as Koplik spots may appear inside the mouth two to three days after symptoms begin.
How does measles spread?
Measles is so contagious that if one person has it, up to 90% of the people close to that person who are not immune will also become infected, the CDC said. It lives in the nose and throat mucus of an infected person. It can spread to others through coughing and sneezing.
If other people breathe the contaminated air or touch an infected surface and then touch their eyes, nose or mouth, they can become infected. The virus can live up to two hours in the air after an infected person leaves the area.
Best protection against measles is MMR vaccine but numbers dropping
The CDC said two doses ofMMR vaccineare about 97% effective at preventing measles; one dose is about 93% effective.
The number of people who have received the vaccine has been dropping in Florida. And while Florida public school districts require the vaccine, medical and religious exemptionsdo exist.
The percentage of kindergarten students who have received the MMR vaccine fell to 91.7% in the 2021 to 2022 school year, according to the Florida Department of Public Health. That'slower than the national average, 93%, for the same year, and lower than the average in Florida five years prior, which was 94.1%.
