A high-school student in Miami has tested positive for measles amid a measles outbreak now affecting nine states. So far, 164 cases have been reported, with one death as a result.
According to Miami television station WPLG, officials with Miami-Dade Public Schools confirmed that the measles case was reported at Miami Palmetto Senior High School in Pinecrest, a suburban village in Miami-Dade County.
A letter obtained by CBS News Miami indicated that the infected person was a student at the high school. The letter was sent to parents informing them of the infection and also letting them know that the school plans to hold an immunization drive next week for unvaccinated students with parental consent.
So far, no other reports of the disease have emerged in the Sunshine State as of the time of this writing. Officials from the Florida State College said this week that, “We did have an outbreak in Broward County (Fort Lauderdale area) last year. There have also been outbreaks in other parts of the country. As we’ve seen in Texas, these can easily spread beyond county or even state borders.”
What Is Measles?
Measles is a highly contagious viral infection caused by the Measles morbillivirus. It spreads through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The disease can be deadly in rare cases.
Measles can affect individuals of all ages but is particularly dangerous for young children, pregnant women, and those with weakened immune systems. While the disease was once common, widespread vaccination programs have significantly reduced its prevalence in many parts of the world. However, outbreaks still occur, particularly in communities with low vaccination rates.
The Florida State College of Medicine said that “Measles is serious. Kids get really sick, with cough, high fever, and rash. Historically, one in five are hospitalized. One in a thousand have brain involvement (encephalitis), and as many as one in 3,000 cases die. Pregnant women can suffer miscarriage or premature birth.”
That makes it a disease to take seriously.
The early symptoms of measles typically appear 7–14 days after exposure to the virus and include:
- High fever (often above 101°F)
- Cough (persistent and dry)
- Runny nose (similar to a cold)
- Red, watery eyes
- Sore throat
- Fatigue and general malaise
- Loss of appetite
- Koplik’s spots (small white spots with bluish-white centers inside the mouth, appearing 2–3 days before the rash)
These symptoms are followed by the characteristic red rash that typically begins on the face and spreads downward across the body.
If you or your child has been exposed to measles or if the symptoms listed above present themselves, you should contact your doctor as soon as possible.
Red Rash
These symptoms are followed by a characteristic red rash that typically begins on the face and spreads downward across the body.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
The possible outcomes of measles vary in severity. In mild cases, the infection runs its course within a couple of weeks, leading to full recovery. However, complications can arise, including ear infections, pneumonia, severe diarrhea, and encephalitis (brain inflammation), which can lead to long-term neurological damage or even death. Measles is not a disease to take lightly and any potential infection should be treated by a medical professional.
A Rare But Frightening Outcome Of Measles
In rare cases, a delayed but fatal complication called subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) can develop as many as 10 years after a measles infection. SSPE is a neurological disorder caused by a persistent measles virus infection in the brain. It typically develops years after a person has recovered from measles, often between 7 to 10 years later.
SSPE results from a defective, mutant form of the virus that remains in the central nervous system and gradually causes widespread inflammation and degeneration of brain tissue. The disease primarily affects children and young adults who had measles at an early age, particularly those who were not vaccinated. Symptoms begin subtly with changes in behavior, memory loss, and cognitive decline, followed by muscle spasms, seizures, and progressive loss of motor control. As the disease advances, individuals experience severe neurological deterioration, leading to coma and, ultimately, death.
Unfortunately, SSPE, a fatal complication related to a measles case, almost always results in death within a few years of symptom onset.
Measles-related complications are more common in people with weakened immune systems. Fortunately, the measles vaccine provides highly effective protection against the virus, preventing illness and reducing the risk of outbreaks. Contact your medical care provider for more information.
The disease is largely preventable, and measles outbreaks have largely been eradicated in the US thanks to widespread vaccinations. Modern vaccines conferring 93% immunity with the first dose and 97% after the 2nd dose. Immunity is lifelong.
According the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health “MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) vaccines protect has been exhaustively studied and proven safe.”
