WESTON, Fla. – A case of measles has been reported at a Broward County elementary school, officials confirmed Friday. It’s the 21st reported case this year in the country, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The case of the highly contagious disease was at Manatee Bay Elementary School, at 19200 Manatee Isles Drive, in Weston, according to Broward County Public Schools on Friday.
“It was a little scary,” said Karla Abregu the parent of a Manatee Bay student.
The patient is a third-grade student without a history of travel, according to the Sun Sentinel.
BCPS spokesperson John J. Sullivan said the school district was cooperating with the Florida Department of Health in Broward County investigation.
Shawntee Herring, a parent of a student at Manatee Bay, said the school sent a letter to parents saying that a field trip was canceled because of the “confirmed” case.
“I thought at first, ‘Why would a child at school have measles? Isn’t that something we get vaccinated for?”
The case comes amid a worldwide surge in cases amid declining vaccination rates.
Two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine are required to attend Florida public schools, but parents can seek religious or medical exemptions.
Two doses of the measles vaccine are highly protective against the disease. Children in developing countries in Africa, Southeast Asia, Latin America and India are at highest risk.
Measles is among the most infectious diseases known and spreads in the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It is most common in children under 5. Symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose and a distinctive rash.
Most deaths are due to complications like encephalitis, severe dehydration, serious breathing problems and pneumonia. Complications are most likely in young children and adults over 30.