A map shows the spread of measles as cases continue to grow in Florida as health officials in Broward County confirmed on Monday an eighth case of the virus, including one in a child under age 5.
The outbreak appears to have emerged rapidly with six cases recorded last week, with health officials telling local health care providers that a third grader with no history of travel had tested positive Friday, February 16.
The cases center around Manatee Bay Elementary School in Weston as five other cases linked to the school have been recorded, the Florida Department of Health previously confirmed to Newsweek.
Measles is a highly contagious disease caused by a virus that spreads through an infected person's breath, coughs or sneezes. Symptoms tend to include a cold-like illness and a rash of tiny red spots, but it can cause complications and, in some cases, lead to death.
As of February 25, there have been nine cases of measles reported in Florida since February 1, according to the Florida Department of Health. Eight in Broward County and one in Polk County.
On Sunday, two children in Broward County became the newest measles patients, however, it is unknown what connection the youngest measles patient, under 5, has to Manatee Bay Elementary School.
Meanwhile, the measles case in Polk County has been listed as travel-related.
In a statement on Sunday, the Florida Department of Health in Broward County, which sits just north of Miami, said it was "continuously working with all partners, including Broward County Public Schools and local hospitals, to identify contacts that are at risk of transmission."
In addition, Superintendent Peter Licata previously told Local 10 News during a visit to the school last week that attending the school was "safe if your child is vaccinated."
However, Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo deferred to parents as to whether to let their children attend school, citing the "high immunity rate in the community, as well as the burden on families and educational cost of healthy children missing school," a decision which has attracted criticism from some public health experts.
The statement conflicts with federal and medical professional recommendations that children from the school should remain at home to prevent the spread of measles. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends unvaccinated children exposed to measles be isolated for three weeks.
Newsweek has reached out to the Florida Department of Health communications office via email for comment.
Meanwhile, the vaccination rate for measles is around 91 percent for the state, according to the CDC.
The Florida outbreak comes after the CDC reported that as of Friday there have been at least 35 measles cases in 15 states in 2024—most related to international travel.
There have been confirmed cases in parts of California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Ohio and Washington. Officials are investigating whether others who had close contact with those infected may have contracted it as well.
The worst year for measles in the U.S. since 1992 came in 2019, when there were 1,274 cases recorded nationwide.
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