Miami Palmetto Senior High School in Pinecrest is the latest site of a measles case in Miami-Dade County. A student at the school contracted the virus, marking the first confirmed case in the county this year, as reported in an email obtained by CBS News Miami sent to parents.
Details about the case are limited, but the school assured parents that they are working closely with health officials to ensure safety. Even vaccinated individuals are considered at low risk of transmission. Parents will be contacted directly by the Miami-Dade County Health Department if their child had significant contact with the affected student.
Symptoms of measles, as outlined by the school, include fever, cough, and a rash that begins on the face and spreads. School officials encouraged parents to check their child's vaccination status and watch for symptoms. An MMR vaccination drive will take place at the school from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. next week, for students with parental consent who have not been vaccinated.
Parents reacted to the news with varying levels of concern. "I wasn't too concerned because my children are vaccinated," Jill Katz told WSVN while attending her son's lacrosse game. Another student who is not vaccinated expressed concern, saying, "I know I’m not[vaccinated] which is a little concerning but I should be fine."
While the MMR vaccine is the most effective way to prevent measles, cases across the U.S. show that not everyone is vaccinated. According to the CDC, measles hospitalized an estimated 48,000 people last year and caused between 400 and 500 deaths.
