Measles cases are increasing in Florida, and health officials urge people to monitor for symptoms if they believe they may have been exposed.
A majority of cases are in Collier County, with at least 12 confirmed measles cases that appear to be linked to Ave Maria University.
“DOH-Collier is working closely with Ave Maria University officials to provide resources on campus. This includes pre and post-exposure options,” the alert on the Florida Department of Health website says.
In addition to Collier, there have been reports of measles cases in Duval, St. John’s, Hillsborough, and Manatee counties. As of Jan. 29, the U.S. reported 588 confirmed measles cases across 17 states, including Florida, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.
Here are the symptoms of the contagious disease and how it is treated.
What is measles? How severe is it?
Measles is a highly contagious, serious airborne disease caused by a virus that infects the respiratory tract and then spreads throughout the body. It can spread easily when an infected person breathes, coughs or sneezes. It can remain infectious in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves an area.
It was declared eliminated from the United States in 2000; however, measles is brought into the country by unvaccinated travelers who get measles while they are in other countries, according to the CDC.
Measles can affect anyone, but is particularly dangerous for children under 5, babies, pregnant people or people with compromised immune systems, such as those with leukemia or HIV infection.
Nearly one to three of every 1,000 children who become infected with measles will die from respiratory and neurologic complications.
What are the typical symptoms of measles?
According to the CDC, measles symptoms appear 7 to 14 days after contact with the virus, with common symptoms including:
Other symptoms may include fatigue, headache, sore throat, muscle pain, and red spots with white centers in the mouth. It can lead to serious complications like pneumonia or, rarely, brain swelling (encephalitis), according to the FDOH.
How is measles diagnosed?
If you suspect you or your loved one has measles, it is strongly encouraged that you contact your health care provider. You can receive instructions on how to safely seek medical attention without exposing other patients.
As for what to expect at the physician’s office, the CDC states that physicians will collect a serum sample and a throat swab (or nasopharyngeal swab) from patients suspected of having measles at first contact. They might also collect urine samples.
“Detection of measles-specific IgM antibody in serum and measles RNA by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in a respiratory specimen are the most common methods for confirming measles infection,” the CDC writes.
Once the laboratory results are available, health professionals can accurately diagnose the individual.
Can measles be mistaken for other illnesses?
Measles may, in some cases, be difficult to distinguish from other diseases, such as rubella or scarlet fever, due to similar symptoms.
What is the treatment for measles?
There’s no specific medical treatment for measles; however, infected individuals should be isolated for 4 days after the onset of rash.
How can I prevent my child from catching measles?
Measles can be prevented with measles-containing vaccine, which is primarily administered as the combination measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine.
The vaccine protects against three diseases: measles, mumps and rubella. The CDC recommends that children receive two doses of the MMR vaccine, with the first dose administered between 12 and 15 months of age and the second between 4 and 6 years of age.
One dose of the MMR vaccine is approximately 93% effective at preventing measles, while two doses are approximately 97% effective.
The Mayo Clinic does give suggestions for treating a measles infection, including:
Contributing: Ana Goñi-Lessan and Liz Freeman, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Is there a measles outbreak in Florida? What to know, how to protect yourself
Reporting by Samantha Neely, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Fort Myers News-Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
