BROWARD COUNTY, Fla. – A young child – between the ages of 0 and 4 – was diagnosed with measles last month in Broward County, Local 10 News learned Friday.
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The news was first reported by the Tallahassee Democrat.
According to flhealthcharts.gov, the case was confirmed in April.
The child reportedly contracted measles from outside the U.S.
In early March, a measles case was also reported in South Florida involving a student at Miami Palmetto Senior High School in Pinecrest.
According to ABC News, measles cases have reached 1,046 nationwide as the virus continues spreading across the U.S.
Measles is a respiratory disease caused by one of the world’s most contagious viruses. The virus is airborne and spreads easily when an infected person breathes, sneezes or coughs. It most commonly affects kids.
Measles first infects the respiratory tract, then spreads throughout the body, causing a high fever, runny nose, cough, red, watery eyes and a rash.
The rash generally appears three to five days after the first symptoms, beginning as flat red spots on the face and then spreading downward to the neck, trunk, arms, legs and feet. When the rash appears, the fever may spike over 104 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the CDC.
There’s no specific treatment for measles, so doctors generally try to alleviate symptoms, prevent complications and keep patients comfortable.
People who have had measles once can’t get it again, health officials say.