Measles virus. Mother holding tiny baby foot with red rash, closeup – Courtesy: Shutterstock – Image by Prostock-studio
TAMPA, FL. – Two of the three measles cases that the Florida Department of Health has identified this year are young individuals in the counties of Hillsborough and Manatee.
What we know: According to medical professionals, the patients range in age from 20 to 29. While the Manatee case was made public outside of Florida, the Hillsborough patient is thought to have contracted the virus within the state.
St. Johns County reported a third instance.
According to the CDC, more than 2,000 measles cases were reported nationwide in 44 states last year, the largest number in 30 years.
Physicians in the Tampa Bay region stated that the occurrences are not surprising, citing a decline in kid immunization rates in previous years.
According to Dr. Thomas Unnasch, a distinguished professor emeritus at USF Health, measles requires a very high vaccination rate to prevent epidemics because it spreads more rapidly than COVID-19 or the flu.
According to experts, vaccination rates of roughly 93–94 percent are necessary to achieve measles herd immunity. Immunity levels are currently estimated to be closer to 90–92 percent.
“That gap means there are more non-immune, susceptible people walking around,” Unnasch stated.
Go deeper: According to Dr. James Hillman, a pediatric emergency medicine expert at HCA Florida Brandon, he hasn’t treated a case of measles since the vaccine’s widespread availability a few decades ago.
According to him, fever is frequently the first symptom, followed by a characteristic rash, oral lesions, and conjunctivitis or pink eye. Approximately 20% of children who are not vaccinated and get measles wind up in the hospital, frequently with pneumonia.
“We can prevent illnesses like this with immunizations,” Hillman stated. “That’s what makes this so frustrating.”
The measles vaccine is still on the list, even though the CDC lowered the overall number of immunizations that are advised for children last year. Vaccinated individuals can still get measles, according to doctors, but the illness is much less likely to spread and symptoms are usually mild.
Additionally, they emphasize that adults can also receive the immunization.
Next steps:
Health professionals caution that if vaccination rates do not rise, more cases may occur. Physicians continue to advise adults and parents to consult their healthcare providers and verify their immunization status.
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Melissa’s career in writing started more than 20 years ago. Today, she lives in South Florida with her husband and two boys.
