In mid-February, an outbreak of measles began at Manatee Bay Elementary School in Broward County, South Florida. The outbreak has now spread to at least nine cases in Broward County and one additional case in Polk County, Central Florida. Despite the seriousness of the situation, Florida’s response to the outbreak has raised concerns among public Health experts.
Florida’s surgeon general, Dr. Joseph Ladapo, has not advised parents of unvaccinated children at the affected school to get their kids vaccinated or to quarantine them. This goes against well-established public health guidance, leaving many experts puzzled and worried about the potential consequences.
Dr. Ali Khan, Dean of Public Health at the University of Nebraska, expressed his concerns about the situation, stating that undermining confidence in public health measures and vaccination could put more people at risk of diseases like measles, which have been largely eradicated.
Measles is a highly contagious disease, with up to 9 out of 10 unvaccinated people becoming infected when exposed. Dr. Marcus Plescia, Chief Medical Officer for the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, emphasized the importance of vaccination to prevent the spread of measles, especially in areas with low vaccination rates like Broward County.
While measles has been largely eradicated in the U.S. thanks to high vaccination rates, outbreaks can still occur when people travel to other countries and bring the virus back. It is crucial to contain outbreaks quickly by vaccinating unvaccinated individuals within three days of exposure and quarantining them for 21 days to prevent further spread.
However, with the current skepticism around vaccines and public health measures, experts fear that measles outbreaks could become more common, leading to unnecessary suffering and potential deaths. It is essential for state and local authorities to follow established public health guidance to protect the community from preventable diseases like measles.
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