A confirmed measles case at Wellington High School in Palm Beach County prompted a letter to families this week from Principal Cara Gorham, along with reassurance from health officials that the infected individual was not on campus during the contagious period.
Dr. Kartik Cherabuddi of the University of South Florida urged calm while noting measles is the most contagious infection known to medicine — airborne and capable of lingering in a room for two hours after an infected person has left. Symptoms appear 7 to 21 days after exposure: high fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, and a rash beginning at the face and spreading downward. Those infected are contagious for four days before and after the rash appears.
The good news: two doses of the MMR vaccine confer over 97% immunity. Pregnant women, young children, and the immunocompromised remain the most vulnerable.
Parents whose children show symptoms should call their clinic before arriving. Classes at Wellington High School are continuing normally.
Harlan Kilstein the publisher of this website is a resident of Delray. He has lived in Palm Beach County since 1997, In that time he has explored everything for surfing on private beaches in Delray to walks up and down Atlantic Avenue.
He is known to drop everything at a moment's notice to fish in Delray Lakes, bird watch, goes horseback riding or play pinball at the Delray Pin Ball Museum.
You can find him either sipping a coffee on Atlantic Avenue or drinking a flight of whiskey at Warren's.
One thing is certain, he knows Delray Beach.
