The index case, an adult in Indian River County-Vero Beach, is thought to have acquired measles during overseas travel and spread it to a family member in the same house. The St. Lucie County-Port St. Lucie case is a 6-year-old child who was previously unvaccinated. The Florida Department of Health is working with the specific school district in St. Lucie County to notify families of this highly transmissible disease.
These new cases of measles have health officials concerned. They come just a few weeks after an isolated case was reported when an international traveler became ill at a conference in Kissimmee. No new cases had resulted in Florida that could be attributed to that foreign traveler.
Specific vaccination guidelines are available for unvaccinated adults and children. In an effort to implement effective infection control efforts, it is recommended that children be immunized against measles between 12 and 15 months and again at 4 to 6 years.
0