This article appeared in The Orlando Sentinel. Read the full story here.
The Duval County health department has confirmed measles in an unvaccinated child with no history of international travel.
This is the third measles case in Florida this year.
The health department has sent letters to all facilities that the child visited and informed health practitioners to be on the lookout for rash-like illnesses in patients, Jacksonville health officials said in a news release.
So far 93 people have been identified to have had possible exposure with the child, mostly in health-care settings, according to the Florida Department of Health.
The two previous measles cases in the state were reported in Broward and Pinellas counties, in March and April respectively. They involved Florida residents who were unvaccinated and acquired measles while visiting other countries.
Although the U.S. has had one of the largest measles outbreaks in 25 years this year, Florida has so far reported fewer cases than last year, where 15 cases were identified.
The best way to prevent the measles infection is to get vaccinated.
The CDC recommends two doses of the measles vaccine (MMR) for children — the first at 12 to 15 months and the second at four to six years of age.