(C) Florida Phoenix This story was originally published by Florida Phoenix and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . Two measles cases diagnosed in New Orleans area: Answers to your FAQs [1] ['Louisiana Illuminator', 'More From Author', '- February'] Date: 2024-02-22 Two people in the Greater New Orleans area have been diagnosed with measles, the Louisiana Department of Health reported Wednesday. Both individuals recently returned from a trip out-of-state, according to state health officials who said a public health investigation has been initiated. No additional information about the infected people or where they had traveled was provided. Six measles cases have been confirmed at a Florida school. Classes have continued at Manatee Bay Elementary School in Weston, just east of Fort Lauderdale, but nearly 20% of its 1,067 were absent Tuesday, according to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Last year, the Florida Department of Health reported two cases of measles — one in Miami-Dade County and another in Seminole County. Broward County Public Schools and a separate organization held vaccination events over the weekend. Vaccines were also provided Wednesday for students, staff and family at Manatee Bay Elementary. State health officials are referring to the Weston measles outbreak as a “cluster” of cases and have not recommended a school closure because of the community’s “high immunity rate.” The Florida health agency did not provide a specific measles vaccination rate for Broward County, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported about 91% of Florida kindergartners for the 2022-23 school year had received the two required doses of the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine. As of 2021-22, 94% of Louisiana kindergartners had completed their MMR vaccine series, according to the CDC. That figure was actually lower than the prior school year. Measles is so highly contagious that the CDC says 90% of unprotected people who come in contact with someone who has the virus will catch it. The risk is far lower for those who have received the measles vaccine. They have only a 3% chase of contracting the virus, and their symptoms will be far less severe. As of Feb. 15, the CDC reported 20 measles cases from 11 states. These numbers do not account for the two cases in Louisiana state health department have confirmed. A running total of 22 cases would put the U.S. on pace to exceed last year’s total of 58 from 19 states and the District of Columbia. FAQs and answers The Louisiana Department of Health has compiled answers to frequently asked questions about measles: What are the symptoms of measles? According to the CDC, the symptoms of measles generally appear about seven to 14 days after a person is infected. Measles typically begins with high fever, cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes. Two or three days after symptoms begin, tiny white spots (Koplik spots) might appear inside the mouth of a patient. Three to five days after symptoms begin, a rash breaks out. It usually begins as flat red spots that appear on the face at the hairline and spread downward to the neck, trunk, arms, legs and feed. Small, raised bumps may also appear on top of the flat red spots. The spots may become joined together as they spread from the head to the rest of the body. When the rash appears, a person’s fever may spike to more than 104° Fahrenheit. After a few days, the fever subsides and rashes fade. What should I do if I might have been exposed to measles? Immediately inform your health care provider, who can: Determine if you are immune to measles based on your vaccination record, age or laboratory evidence. Please make sure to notify your provider that you have been exposed to measles before you arrive so that they can make special arrangements to evaluate you, if needed, without putting other patients and medical office staff at risk. If you are not immune to measles, MMR vaccine or a medicine called immune globulin may help reduce your risk of developing measles. Your health care provider can advise you and monitor you for signs and symptoms of measles. If you are not immune and do not get MMR or immune globulin, you should stay away from settings where there are susceptible people (schools, hospitals or child care) until your health care provider says it’s OK to return. This will help ensure that you do not spread it to others. I think I have measles. What should I do? Immediately call your health care provider and let them know about your symptoms so that they can tell you what to do next. Your health care provider can make special arrangements to evaluate you, if needed, without putting other patients and medical office staff at risk. Could I still get measles if I am fully vaccinated? Very few people — about three out of 100 — who get two doses of measles vaccine will still get measles if exposed to the virus. Experts aren’t sure why. It could be that their immune systems didn’t respond as well as they should have to the vaccine. But the good news is, fully vaccinated people who get measles seem more likely to have a milder illness. And fully vaccinated people also seem less likely to spread the disease to other people, including people who can’t get vaccinated because they are too young or have weakened immune systems. This story was published by the Louisiana Illuminator, an affiliate of the nonprofit States Newsroom network, which includes the Florida Phoenix. 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