Health & Fitness
1st FL Measles Case Reported At Miami-Area High School
A student at a Miami-area high school was diagnosed with the measles, the first case of the virus in FL this year, reports said.
MIAMI, FL — A measles case was reported at a Miami-area high school Tuesday, according to multiple reports.
A student at Miami Palmetto Senior High School in Pinecrest was diagnosed with the virus, Local 10 News said.
It’s Florida’s first measles case of the year as measles continues to spread in Texas and other states, Newsweek reported.
Find out what's happening in Miamifor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Health officials in Miami-Dade County are offering free measles vaccinations in response, CBS said. Miami Palmetto Senior High School will host an immunization drive the week of March 10 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. for unvaccinated students who have parental consent.
Measles (rubeola) is spread through coughing or sneezing. Symptoms appear seven to 14 days after contact with the virus and include a high fever up to 105 degrees, red and watery eyes, a cough and a runny nose, according to the Florida Department of Health.
Find out what's happening in Miamifor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The most common symptom of measles is a rash that typically develops on the face and neck, but can spread to the entire body. The measles rash appears three to five days after the first symptoms.
It's not the only measles outbreak in the country. Even in states where measles isn’t a problem, the dangerous viral disease can spread quickly in unvaccinated populations, which appears to be the case in West Texas, where there were 159 confirmed measles cases as of Tuesday, state health officials said.
Measles is highly infectious to those who are not vaccinated, but it is extremely rare for a vaccinated individual to contract it, according to health officials. If a vaccinated person does get measles, they usually have milder symptoms.
Symptoms of measles include cold-like symptoms, runny nose, red eyes, greyish-white spots in the mouth, fever, and more. It's transmitted most commonly through coughing and sneezing.
Measles can remain infectious in the air and on surfaces for up to two hours after an infected individual leaves that area.
The MMR vaccine that provides full immunity is available at many healthcare provider offices and pharmacies.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
