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? ›
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. Laboratory confirmation is essential for all sporadic measles cases and all outbreaks.
Which strategies used by public health to reduce the incidence of measles? ›
Routine measles vaccination, combined with mass immunization campaigns in countries with high case rates are crucial for reducing global measles deaths.
What are the recommendations for measles outbreak? ›
Outbreak control and post-exposure prophylaxis
Persons infected with measles should be isolated for 4 days after the appearance of the rash to prevent transmission to others. In health care settings, airborne precautions should be followed, including the use of an airborne isolation room.
Why is measles a public health issue? ›
But measles can cause serious health complications, especially in children younger than 5 years old. 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.
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.
What percentage of people are vaccinated for measles in Florida? ›
It's true that just under 91 percent of kindergartners in Florida are vaccinated. But 91 percent is not high enough to contain measles because the virus is so contagious. The threshold for population immunity against measles is 95 percent.
What are the 3 C's of measles? ›
The first sign of measles is usually fever, along with the "Three C's" (cough, coryza, or conjunctivitis) and sometimes Koplik spots. Three to five days after symptoms begin, a rash may break out.
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.
Who is most at risk of getting measles? ›
Unvaccinated young children are at highest risk of measles and its complications, including death. Unvaccinated pregnant women are also at risk. Any non-immune person (who has not been vaccinated or was vaccinated but did not develop immunity) can become infected.
What is measles caused by? ›
An extremely contagious virus called morbillivirus causes measles. It's an airborne disease, which means it spreads through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs, sneezes or talks.
Why is measles on the rise? ›
The COVID-19 pandemic also made it difficult for children to get vaccinated against other non-COVID viruses. These low vaccination rates have resulted in the measles virus making a comeback in the U.S. The measles virus is still common around the world and it is increasing globally because of low vaccination rates.
How do you respond to a measles outbreak? ›
Enhance social mobilization activities to inform the affected communities about the suspected outbreak, which specific age group of previously unvaccinated children is targeted for measles vaccination, and where parents should bring their at-risk children for vaccination.
What is the global response to measles? ›
Strengthening vaccination programs
Measles cases anywhere in the world pose a risk to all countries and communities where vaccination coverageA is below 95%. CDC works with countries and global partners to: strengthen national vaccination programs. vaccinate more people against measles.
What are the public health vaccinations for measles? ›
Getting vaccinated is the best way to protect yourself against measles. For children and most adults born after 1970, this means receiving two doses of measles-containing vaccine (e.g., MMR vaccine).
What is the impact of measles on the community? ›
Health impacts
Measles can cause serious illness and death. Children less than 5 years old, and those living in low- and middle- income countries, are the most at risk. In 2022, there were an estimated 9 million measles cases and 136,000 deaths (mostly children).
