Florida's Measles Outbreak Worsens with Confirmation of its Youngest Case Ever

The spread of measles in Florida is escalating, as on Friday, officials from Broward County’s health department confirmed the seventh case in a child under 5.

Florida’s Youngest Measles Patient

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This patient marks the youngest individual affected in this outbreak and represents the first case identified outside the confines of Manatee Bay Elementary School in Weston, close to Fort Lauderdale.

Uncertain Links

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The connection between the youngest measles case and the school remains unclear, yet the spread of the virus to individuals beyond school age was anticipated.

Not Confined to Schools

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As Dr. David Kimberlin, co-director of pediatric infectious diseases at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, explained, cases are “not going to stay contained just to that one school, not when a virus is this infectious.”

35 Measles Cases Across States

In 2024, up to February 22, there have been 35 reported cases of measles across 15 different jurisdictions, including Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York City, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington.

The 35 measles cases reported were predominantly linked to international travel.

Nine Cases Shake Philadelphia

In Pennsylvania alone, January saw nine cases, with eight of those in Philadelphia. Should there be no further cases reported there by early next week, the Philadelphia outbreak will be considered over.

First Measles Case Since 2019

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Adding to the tally, Michigan’s health department announced late Friday its first measles case since 2019.

Largest Measles Outbreak

Florida is currently facing the largest measles outbreak in the U.S., and the actions (or inactions) of Florida’s health officials are attracting criticism from experts in disease transmission.

90% Infection Rate

Measles, known for its high contagion rate and lengthy incubation period, is at the center of a controversial decision by Dr. Joseph Ladapo, the state’s Surgeon General. He has given parents the choice to either quarantine their children or continue sending them to school, a move experts believe could contribute to the spread of the virus.

Unvaccinated individuals have a 90% chance of infection upon exposure.

Epidemiologist’s Call to Action

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Katelyn Jetelina, who monitors illnesses for “Your Local Epidemiologist,” emphasizes the fundamental rule of epidemiology: to identify and isolate, especially in the case of measles.

She notes that infected individuals can be contagious for up to three weeks

The Ultimate Pathogen

Dr. David Kimberlin echoes this sentiment, highlighting measles as the most infectious human pathogen, likening it to a “heat-seeking missile” targeting the unvaccinated.

Controversial School Policy

Dr. Joseph Ladapo, addressing parents at an elementary school, stated that due to the high immunity rate in the community and the negative impact on families and education from healthy children missing school, the Department of Health (DOH) is leaving the decision on school attendance to parents or guardians.

Measles Decision Left to Parents

The letter advised parents to watch for measles symptoms like high fever, rash, and red, watery eyes but stopped short of advocating for vaccination.

Contrasting Health Strategies

This approach contrasts sharply with that of Dr. Mysheika Roberts, Columbus, Ohio’s Health Commissioner, during a measles outbreak in 2022.

She sent out a letter with a notably different tone.

Ohio’s 2022 Approach

The outbreak in Ohio affected 85 children, mostly unvaccinated toddlers, and led to nearly half being hospitalized. Roberts advised administering the MMR vaccine to unvaccinated children exposed to measles as a form of “post-exposure prophylaxis,” which significantly cut down the quarantine time from 21 days to 72 hours for those who received the vaccine.

Controlling Measles in Three Months

Contrary to expectations of a six-month struggle, the outbreak was controlled in three months, with Roberts attributing this efficiency to following standard public health practices of identifying and isolating patients and clearly communicating actions to the public.

Elementary Students at Risk

The measles outbreak in Florida highlights a troubling situation, with many students at an elementary school being vulnerable, and some of them have siblings too young for full vaccination.

Rise in Vaccine Exemptions

This concern is compounded by a recent uptick in vaccine exemptions in Florida. This situation coincides with a national increase in vaccine exemptions.

Alarming Exemption Rates

A CDC report from November revealed that 3% of children entering kindergarten in the 2022-2023 school year received a state-granted vaccine exemption, marking the highest exemption rate ever recorded in the U.S.