Measles cases continue to rise across the U.S., and Florida ranks in the top three states for most cases.According to the Florida Department of Health, there are currently 68 cases statewide.Stay up-to-date: The latest headlines and weather from WPBF 25Currently, there are no measles cases in Palm Beach County or the Treasure Coast, and experts are hoping it stays that way.“I think people should be more cognizant of the fact that we are third in the nation, and the numbers keep rising,” Dr. Leslie Diaz said.The bulk of Florida’s measles cases are in Collier County, and dozens of cases have been linked to Ave Maria University’s campus.“Some of these cases are cases in people that have never traveled outside of the country. So, this is a very powerful statement to say that that means that the only way of contagiousness is through community spread,” Diaz said.Diaz is the chair and director of the infection control committee at Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center.She said symptoms of measles include high fever, coughing, conjunctivitis and a visible rash, and some people are at higher risk than others.Your neighborhood: Local coverage from WPBF 25 News“Twenty years ago, the vaccination rate was much higher than it is today. And while I understand the choices that parents make, know also that you’re putting your child at risk for contracting the disease,” Diaz said.Others at high risk are older adults who were vaccinated earlier in life and people who are immunocompromised.If you have symptoms, seek care as soon as possible.“It is a disease that’s very contagious. But it’s also a disease that can cause a lot of damage. The mortality rate is one in about a thousand individuals. So if you are that 1,000 individuals that have comorbid illnesses, you know, you need to pay attention,” Diaz said.Diaz says further spread can be reduced by taking precautions like quarantining those infected, and she believes state officials are currently doing a good job in that regard.Get the latest news updates with the WPBF 25 News app. You can download it here.

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. —

Measles cases continue to rise across the U.S., and Florida ranks in the top three states for most cases.

According to the Florida Department of Health, there are currently 68 cases statewide.

Stay up-to-date: The latest headlines and weather from WPBF 25

Currently, there are no measles cases in Palm Beach County or the Treasure Coast, and experts are hoping it stays that way.

“I think people should be more cognizant of the fact that we are third in the nation, and the numbers keep rising,” Dr. Leslie Diaz said.

The bulk of Florida’s measles cases are in Collier County, and dozens of cases have been linked to Ave Maria University’s campus.

“Some of these cases are cases in people that have never traveled outside of the country. So, this is a very powerful statement to say that that means that the only way of contagiousness is through community spread,” Diaz said.

Diaz is the chair and director of the infection control committee at Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center.

She said symptoms of measles include high fever, coughing, conjunctivitis and a visible rash, and some people are at higher risk than others.

Your neighborhood: Local coverage from WPBF 25 News

“Twenty years ago, the vaccination rate was much higher than it is today. And while I understand the choices that parents make, know also that you’re putting your child at risk for contracting the disease,” Diaz said.

Others at high risk are older adults who were vaccinated earlier in life and people who are immunocompromised.

If you have symptoms, seek care as soon as possible.

“It is a disease that’s very contagious. But it’s also a disease that can cause a lot of damage. The mortality rate is one in about a thousand individuals. So if you are that 1,000 individuals that have comorbid illnesses, you know, you need to pay attention,” Diaz said.

Diaz says further spread can be reduced by taking precautions like quarantining those infected, and she believes state officials are currently doing a good job in that regard.

Get the latest news updates with the WPBF 25 News app. You can download it here.