A measles outbreak in South Florida has now sickened 8 young children. State health officials confirmed that two more kids have been infected since last week: one child under 5 years old and the other between between ages 5-9. The other 6 confirmed cases are students who attend Manatee Bay Elementary School in Broward County. Florida is the latest state in to get hit by a wave of measles outbreaks that includes New Jersey, Pennsylvania and 8 other states.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines advise parents to keep unvaccinated home for 21 days after they are exposed to measles. The virus is so contagious that it can linger in the air and infect an unvaccinated person hours after measles-positive person leaves the room. About 200 Manatee Bay students were absent last Tuesday and Wednesday, indicating that their parents may have kept them them home for online class.
