The state of California is having an outbreak of measles. There are no confirmed cases of measles in CCUSD at this time, and maintaining this means being aware of any possible exposure, particularly through travel. In an effort to support our community, we would like to provide you with the following information about measles from the LACDPH and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LACDPH) announced on April 22, 2019 that it is investigating several reports of measles in the county. These include five confirmed cases of measles that occurred after international travel. Follow this link for the most recent information about the outbreak from the LACDPH publichealth.lacounty.gov/phcommon/public/media/mediapubhpdetail.cfm?prid=2031
1. What is measles? Measles is a very contagious disease caused by a virus that lives in the nose and throat.
2. How does measles spread? The virus spreads easily through the air when a sick person coughs or sneezes. The virus can also stay in the air and on surfaces for many hours. Therefore, you can be infected by being in a room that a sick person was in or by touching an object that they’ve touched. A person with measles can spread the disease to others even before they have any symptoms.
3. What are the symptoms of measles? Measles can cause symptoms such as a high fever (over 101°F), red watery eyes, cough, and a runny nose. 3-5 day after symptoms begin, a rash with flat red spots appears at the hairline first and spreads downward. When a rash appears, a person’s fever may spike to more than 104.
4. How is measles treated? There is no cure for measles. Treatment focuses on relieving symptoms and managing the serious health problems that can happen.
5. What can you do to prevent measles? Getting vaccinated is the best way to keep from getting and spreading measles. Now is a great time for all families, teachers and school administrators to review their vaccine records and get their vaccines up to date. If you do not have access to your vaccine records, or are unsure whether you’ve been vaccinated against measles, please contact your primary healthcare provider. You may also be vaccinated at a pharmacy or at a clinic offering no or low-cost vaccinations. Call 2-1-1 or visit www.publichealth.lacounty.gov/ip to find a nearby clinic.
6. Why have there been more measles cases in the news lately? Most people in the United States (U.S.) are protected against measles through vaccination. The U.S. has seen more cases than usual because fewer people have been getting their MMR vaccine or have travelled to or from places where measles is more common.
7. What should you do if you think you may have measles? If you think that you or someone in your family has been exposed to or has measles, contact your healthcare provider’s office right away. Tell them that you might have measles before you go, so they can take steps to prevent other patients and staff from being exposed. Notify your School Nurse if your child shows signs and symptoms of measles, and/or whether your healthcare provider has confirmed a diagnosis of measles.
CCUSD School Nurses
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