An outbreak of measles has been reported at Manatee Bay Elementary School in Weston, located in Broward County, southern Florida. The number of cases linked to the outbreak has now risen to five. The first patient was a third-grade student at the school who did not have a history of travel. Health officials are working closely with the Broward County Public Schools to address the situation.

Following the identification of the measles cases, the district took preventative measures by conducting a deep cleaning of the school premises and replacing air filters. The school's principal is actively communicating with families to keep them informed of the latest developments.

Measles, a disease declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000, is currently causing concerns due to a decline in routine vaccinations in recent years. The two-dose measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has proven to be 93% effective after one dose and 97% effective after two doses.

Authorities warn that the outbreak could potentially affect more individuals due to the highly contagious nature of the disease among those who are not immune. The public is advised to seek medical care promptly if they suspect symptoms of measles and to avoid visiting health care providers without prior contact.

This latest measles outbreak in Weston is part of a concerning trend, with multiple cities in the U.S. experiencing outbreaks in recent months. In Philadelphia, there have been eight confirmed cases since December 2023, while cases have also been identified in Delaware, New Jersey, and Washington state. The Florida Department of Health in Broward County is working to identify at-risk contacts and provide necessary notifications to health care providers in the area.

As of the 2022-23 school year, over 90% of kindergartners in Florida were fully vaccinated with the MMR vaccine, but exemptions are allowed for religious reasons, resulting in nearly 4.5% of children being exempted from one or more vaccines. Health experts emphasize the importance of herd immunity to combat the spread of diseases like measles.