Measles Awareness

As measles cases and outbreaks continue to be a public health concern, we wanted to share important information to protect our students, staff, and families. Measles is a highly contagious virus that can spread quickly, particularly among people who are not vaccinated.

There are 943 cases of reported measles in the state of Pennsylvania. At this time, there have not been any reported cases in Allegheny County.

Please review the information below, including symptoms, prevention, and school exclusion guidelines.

Measles is a highly contagious viral illness that spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The virus can remain in the air for up to two hours after an infected person has left an area.

Measles can cause serious complications, especially in young children, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems.

Common symptoms include:

- High fever (often above 104F)

- Cough

- Runny Nose

- Red, watery eyes

- Small white spots inside the mouth

- A red, blotchy rash that usually begins on the face and spreads downward to the rest of the body

When to seek medical care: If your child develops symptoms consistent with measles, call your healthcare provider/hospital before arriving at the office. This allows the office/hospital to take precautions and prevent exposure to others.

The measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine is the most effective way to prevent measles.

• Two doses are approximately 97% effective against measles.
• One dose is 93% effective
• Children typically receive the first dose at 12-15 months and the second dose on or after 4th birthday.

Both doses of MMR are required by the Pennsylvania Department of Health for school enrollment.

Suspected or Confirmed Measles:

Students with suspected or confirmed measles must remain home and be excluded from school. They may return only after completing the required exclusion period and receiving clearance from the Allegheny County Health Department (phone number: 877-724-3258).

Students Exposed to Measles:

Students that have been exposed to measles and do not have evidence of immunity may be excluded from school, as directed by the Allegheny County Health Department.

• Exclusion may last 21 days after the last known exposure for students that do not have evidence of immunity.
• The exclusion period may be extended if additional exposures occur.
• Students with documented immunity are generally not subject to exclusion

If you believe your child has been exposed to measles:

1. Contact your healthcare provider promptly, even if your child does not have any symptoms
2. Notify the school nurse of the potential exposure.
3. Follow any instructions provided by the Allegheny County Health Department regarding testing, vaccination, monitoring, or exclusion.

Thank you for helping keep our school community healthy. Working together, we can help reduce the spread of measles and protect students, staff, and families, including those who are unable to receive vaccinations. If you have questions about your child's immunization status, please reach out to your healthcare provider. Linked here are additional resources and information from the Pennsylvania Department of Health