WESTON, Fla. – A total of four cases of measles were confirmed at an elementary school in Broward County on Saturday following a first report of the outbreak on Friday, officials said.
Broward County Public School Chief Communications/ Legislative Affairs Officer John J. Sullivan sent out a statement Saturday confirming the three new cases and the health and safety of students and staff at the Weston school:
The case of the highly contagious disease was reported at Manatee Bay Elementary School, at 19200 Manatee Isles Drive, according to Broward County Public Schools on Friday.
The first patient is a third-grade student without a history of travel, according to the Florida Department of Health.
Officials have not confirmed what grade the other students who contracted the disease were in.
The school’s principal is keeping families informed and following health department guidelines to safeguard the community.
“All you have to do is be in the same room or proximity of an affected patient to be at risk of contracting the virus,” said Dr. Ronald Ford, chief medical officer at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital.
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.
“It’s a spotted rash that starts on the head, spreads to the trunk and then ultimately to the extremities,” said Ford.
Doctors say the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine is highly effective at preventing the virus.
“Parents that have made the decision to not vaccinate their children, they have a heightened awareness now that we know that measles is in our community,” he added.
Ford says those who think they may have contracted the virus should not immediately go to the emergency room.
“They should not go if they are just looking for testing, or if they are just looking for confirmation of a diagnosis,” he said. “That’s something that can often be done by the child’s doctor.”
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.
If you or someone you know has been exposed to measles, please call the Florida Department of Health at the numbers below:
Daytime phone: (954) 213-0710
Nights and weekends: (954) 270-8905