By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews
Duval County, FL health officials recently confirmed one measles case in an unimmunized child in Jacksonville.
The Florida Department of Health in Duval County sent a letter notifying any and all facilities the case(s) visited while infectious and encouraging facilities to also notify others who may have had contact with the child during that time. The Jacksonville medical community was also informed to be watchful of any rash-like illnesses in patients. Individuals who have received their routine measles vaccination, including most children, or those who had measles in the past, will have immunity to this disease.
Health officials encourage parents to get their children immunized against measles with the combination MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine. Children should receive two doses, with the first at 12 to 15 months of age, and the second at four to six years of age.
Measles spreads through the air by infectious droplets and is highly contagious. It can be transmitted four days before the rash is visible to four days after the rash is visible.
The symptoms of measles generally begin approximately seven to 14 days after a person is exposed to someone with measles, and include blotchy rash, fever, cough, runny nose, red, watery eyes (conjunctivitis), feeling run down, achy (malaise) and tiny white spots with bluish-white centers found inside the mouth (Koplik’s spots).
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