WESTON, Fla. – Broward Superintendent Peter Licata visited Manatee Bay Elementary School Tuesday to allay parents’ fears over a series of measles cases affecting students at the Weston campus.
It came hours before officials reported a sixth case of the highly-infectious disease connected with the school, located at 19200 Manatee Isles Drive.
Licata checked in with students and teachers as they returned to class following the Presidents’ Day holiday.
“It’s safe,” Licata said. “It’s safe if your child is vaccinated.”
But amid concerns over the virus, more than 20% of students were out of class Tuesday — 219 out of 1,067 who attend the school — as well as six staff members.
Licata said the district is “doing everything possible here at the school with cleaning and changing air filters,” also noting that Manatee Bay has a vaccination rate of around 92%.
While two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine are required to attend Florida public schools, parents can seek religious or medical exemptions. The South Florida cases come amid a worldwide surge in cases as vaccination rates decline.
Licata said it was too premature to determine whether to close the school if cases keep rising.
Dr. Ron Ford, the chief medical officer at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital, said the Florida Department of Health is likely trying to limit the spread and isolate the infected patients, who were likely unvaccinated.
“Two things you need: you need a virus and you need vulnerable population. And unfortunately that’s what we have here,” Ford said. “As a pediatrician, I’m always going to take the side that vaccines are important, that they prevent disease in children.”
Regarding the latest measles case, a Broward County Public Schools spokesperson said, “We expect to receive further guidance from the Florida Department of Health (Wednesday) and will continue to keep the school and its families updated with the latest information.”