{"id":42371,"date":"2024-02-26T19:24:17","date_gmt":"2024-02-27T00:24:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/?p=42371"},"modified":"2024-02-26T19:27:15","modified_gmt":"2024-02-27T00:27:15","slug":"measles-in-florida-disease-spreads-to-polk-county-with-1-reported-case","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/2024\/02\/26\/measles-in-florida-disease-spreads-to-polk-county-with-1-reported-case\/","title":{"rendered":"Measles in Florida: Disease spreads to Polk County with 1 reported case"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

As of Feb. 25, there have been 9 reported measles cases throughout the state \u2014 8 in Broward County and 1 in Polk County.<\/p>\n\n\n

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As health officials continue tracking the spread of measles in South Florida, a case has appeared right here in the Tampa Bay area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to data from the Florida Department of Health last updated on Feb. 25, there have been nine reported measles cases throughout the state \u2014 eight in Broward County and one in Polk County.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While health officials have not shared many details about the Polk County case, a notice from the health department said it was “travel-related.”<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The “cluster” of cases in Broward County has been linked to Manatee Bay Elementary School in Weston, about 40 miles north of Miami.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First, one student reported a measles diagnosis, believed to be contracted locally. The next day, three more cases within the same school were confirmed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While measles is a highly contagious disease, it is preventable through vaccination. People with a full series of Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) immunizations are 98% protected and are unlikely to contract measles, FDOH says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, up to 90% of people without immunity will contract measles if exposed, Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo explained in a letter.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n

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The letter goes on to say that kids are normally recommended to stay home “until the end of the infectious period” but due to the high immunity rate in the community, “DOH is deferring to parents or guardians to make decisions about school attendance.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This means there is no requirement for kids to stay home from school, regardless of measles infection or vaccination status. Health officials do say that children infected with measles “should not attend school until symptoms have fully subsided without medication.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Measles symptoms<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the first measles symptoms<\/a> show 7-14 days after infection<\/strong>. They include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n