Public health experts raise the alarm in South Florida over a measles outbreak
Florida is counting more cases of measles as the state's surgeon general defies federal guidelines and declines to urge people to vaccinate their children.
MICHEL MARTIN, HOST:
Public health experts are raising the alarm over a measles outbreak in South Florida that started at an elementary school and is continuing to spread. While school staff and doctors respond to a growing number of cases, critics say the state's surgeon general is saying things that puts students at risk of the highly contagious illness that was actually considered eradicated two decades ago. Reporter Kate Payne is with member station WLRN and is with us now to tell us more about all this. Good morning.
KATE PAYNE, BYLINE: Good morning.
MARTIN: So, Kate, you were telling me earlier that the CDC considered measles eradicated in 2000. So how did this get out of hand?
PAYNE: That's right. So this outbreak began earlier this month at a school in suburban Broward County, about 20 miles west of Fort Lauderdale. So far, there have been a total of nine confirmed cases of measles in Florida with this outbreak, six are all at that one school, Manatee Bay Elementary in the city of Weston. We also now have a confirmed case in Central Florida in Polk County. And one of these cases is a child who's under the age of 5. That's especially concerning because, according to the CDC, children younger than 5 are more likely to suffer from complications.
MARTIN: And public health experts have been criticizing Florida's surgeon general for not following standard CDC guidance on measles outbreaks. So what is it that he's saying that is causing this concern?
PAYNE: So Joseph Ladapo is Florida's top health official, the surgeon general. He was appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis. And he has consistently undermined vaccination efforts, including the COVID vaccine. And Ladapo told Broward County parents that it's their call whether to send their kids back to the school where the outbreak started, regardless of their vaccination status. He also did not direct parents to get their kids vaccinated, and that goes against the standard practices set by the CDC, which says that unvaccinated kids must stay home for three weeks after they've been exposed in order to keep them safe. Rana Alissa is with the Florida Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, and she says she was alarmed by the surgeon general's guidance.
RANA ALISSA: It's very disappointing to realize that our surgeon general is basically misleading the parents. It should not be left to parents' choice. It should be the recommendation actually not to let your child go to school if they are unvaccinated.
MARTIN: So remind people who may not be familiar with this. Why are health experts worried?
PAYNE: So measles is a serious disease that can be life-threatening. It's incredibly easy to spread and can lead to serious complications. One in 1,000 cases develop encephalitis, which is swelling of the brain. That can leave the child deaf or with an intellectual disability. And about 1-3 out of every 1,000 cases are fatal.
MARTIN: So, Kate, before we let you go, how many people in this South Florida community have had their shots?
PAYNE: So as far as students, the most recent state data shows that 92% of kindergartners in Broward County are vaccinated. It's about the same statewide. And that's less than the 95% that the CDC says is needed to have herd immunity to prevent outbreaks like this one. Florida law does require students to get the vaccine against measles and a number of other shots before they enroll in school, but parents can opt out for religious or medical reasons. And we've seen vaccine uptake rates slip in recent years, not just in Florida.
MARTIN: OK, that is WLRN reporter Kate Payne. Kate, thank you.
PAYNE: Thank you.
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FAQs
Responding to outbreaks
The spread of the disease can be limited with early case identification; and early public health response including vaccination and quarantine of susceptible contacts without presumptive evidence of immunity. Laboratory confirmation is essential for all measles outbreaks.
Where is the measles outbreak in Florida? ›
Last month, the state reported 10 measles cases – nine in Broward County around Fort Lauderdale and one in Polk County near Orlando, with the earliest cases at Manatee Bay Elementary School in Broward County.
What are the CDC guidelines for the measles outbreak? ›
Measles is one of the most contagious diseases. MMR vaccine provides the best protection. Isolate infected patients for 4 days after they develop a rash and follow airborne precautions in healthcare settings. Report suspected measles cases to your local health department.
Why are measles cases rising? ›
Outbreaks have been increasing since 2010, and that's because it's easily imported by unvaccinated travelers. And then it can spread in underimmunized communities. In 2019, more than 1,200 cases of measles were reported in the U.S., and that's the highest number we saw in decades.
Which strategy is used by public health to reduce the incidence of measles? ›
Community-wide vaccination is the most effective way to prevent measles. All children should be vaccinated against measles. The vaccine is safe, effective and inexpensive. Children should receive two doses of the vaccine to ensure they are immune.
What is the measles outbreak strategic response plan? ›
A Measles Outbreak Strategic Response Plan (MOSRP) will support achievement of the MRSF 2021–2030 strategic priorities. The primary goal of the MOSRP is to help countries prevent, prepare for, respond to and recover from measles outbreaks, with support from WHO and other partners.
What did the Florida surgeon general say about measles? ›
Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday defended state Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo's response to a measles outbreak in South Florida, which included advising parents that they could continue to send children to class notwithstanding that measles can kill. A letter Ladapo sent to Broward County parents on Feb.
Can you get the measles if you're vaccinated? ›
About 3 out of 100 people who get two doses of MMR vaccine will get measles if exposed to the virus. However, they are more likely to have a milder illness, and are also less likely to spread the disease to other people. Two doses of MMR vaccine are 88% (range 32% to 95%) effective at preventing mumps.
How contagious is measles? ›
Measles is highly contagious. If one person has it, up to 9 out of 10 people nearby will become infected if they are not protected. The best protection against measles is measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. MMR vaccine provides long-lasting protection against all strains of measles.
What are the 3 C's of measles? ›
The clinical picture of measles can be divided into 3 stages: prodromal, eruptive, and convalescent, and should be suspected in patients with the classic triad of the three “Cs”: cough, conjunctivitis, and coryza.
Health care workers with documented 2 doses of MMR are considered immune regardless of any measles IgG testing result (3). All health care personnel entering the room should use an N95 respirator (regardless of presumptive immunity status) or a respirator with similar effectiveness in preventing airborne transmission.
What is the most contagious period of the measles? ›
Infected people are considered contagious from about five days before the onset of rash to four days afterwards. Measles is maximally contagious during the prodromal phase which lasts for 2–4 days and is characterised by intense coughing.
Has anyone gotten measles after being vaccinated? ›
Why are some fully vaccinated people getting measles? Two doses of MMR vaccine are 97% effective at preventing measles, 1 dose is 93% effective. It is uncommon for someone fully vaccinated to develop measles.
Does the measles vaccine last for life? ›
Duration of Protection. People who receive MMR vaccination according to the U.S. vaccination schedule are usually considered protected for life against measles and rubella.
What are three ways to prevent measles? ›
Toys and other articles used need to be washed in a strong detergent to prevent spread. Ideally used articles that are not washable should be wiped down with alcohol swabs. Hand washing and covering the mouth and nose while sneezing and coughing can prevent several cases of measles.
How would a measles outbreak affect a community? ›
Because measles frequently affects children, workers in childcare facilities and schools are also at an increased risk for exposure to measles. Occupational exposure risk may be highest when measles outbreaks are occurring-especially outbreaks affecting the community in which employees work.
What are the public health vaccinations for measles? ›
Prevention and control. Measles can be prevented with vaccination. The measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine or the measles-mumps-rubella-varicella (MMRV) vaccine are routinely given in childhood. The first dose is recommended after the first birthday at 12 to 15 months of age.
What is the health promotion and disease prevention of measles? ›
Protect yourself with the vaccine.
The best way to protect against measles is with the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. MMR is safe and effective. Two doses of MMR vaccine are about 97% effective at preventing measles; one dose is about 93% effective.
How was the measles outbreak stopped? ›
Widespread use of measles vaccine drastically reduced the disease rates in the 20th century. The United States has maintained measles elimination status for over 20 years.
