A Miami high school student has become the first case of measles detected in Florida this year. The Florida Department of Health reported the case at Palmetto Senior High School, prompting Dr. Joseph Ladapo, the state’s surgeon general, to send a letter to parents advising them on how to handle the situation.
According to Ladapo, due to the high immunity rate in the school and concerns about family burden and educational costs, the decision of whether unvaccinated children should stay home is left up to parents. The Miami-Dade School District will provide remote learning for kids who stay home.
Ladapo also recommended that parents contact their doctor if they notice any measles symptoms and warned them not to visit a doctor’s office without speaking with them first to reduce the risk of spread.
Measles is highly contagious, with up to 90% of unvaccinated people contracting the virus upon exposure. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed 164 measles cases in nine states this year, including Texas, where an outbreak grew to 159 cases with children making up most of those affected.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recently spoke out on the issue, saying that vaccines should be made accessible for all who want them and advising parents to discuss their options with healthcare providers. However, he also warned against attending “measles parties” or deliberately getting sick to build immunity.
Source: https://abcnews.go.com/US/1st-case-measles-detected-florida/story?id=119495312