Florida health officials are urging parents to vaccinate their children against measles after three cases of the disease were reported in a Florida county, among more than 100 cases throughout the U.S. this year.
Federal officials declared the contagious virus had been eliminated in the U.S. in 2000; however, infections periodically occur nationwide, as the virus is still common in many other parts of the world.
The cases in Florida’s Gulf coast county of Pinellas are the first there in 10 years.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, measles infections have been reported in over 100 people in 21 states and Washington, D.C., so far this year.
Measles is easily spread by air droplets when infected people breathe, cough, or sneeze.
Symptoms of Measles disease include a high fever, cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes, followed by a blotchy rash.