Dear Marion Community Schools families:
We wanted to pass along an update from the Indiana Department of Health regarding the recent news of several confirmed measles cases in a neighboring county.
As of last Friday, there were 10 confirmed cases of this highly contagious illness in Miami County (the county directly to our west). Because measles spreads so easily, a single case is considered an outbreak. There were 65 measles cases in the state as of Friday.
Please know: We share this with you not to scare you, but to make sure you know how important it is that your child is up to date on their immunizations.
Most school-age children have received two doses of the MMR vaccine, which is 97% effective at preventing measles. If you are unsure of your student’s vaccination status, please contact your healthcare provider. For anyone who is not already vaccinated against measles, it’s not too late to do so.
Measles symptoms include high fever, cough, runny nose, red watery eyes, and a rash of flat red spots that typically appear at the hairline and spread down the body. Symptoms appear 7 to 14 days after contact with the virus. Some people will experience complications including pneumonia and encephalitis (swelling of the brain). These complications can be deadly.
In addition, measles can also weaken the immune system’s ability to fight off other infections, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Studies have shown that measles can wipe out up to 73% of a person’s existing antibody memory. This means that even if a person recovers from measles, they may be more likely to get sick with other illnesses. It can take months or even years for your body to rebuild its wider immune defenses after a case of measles.
Measles is an airborne virus that can remain in the air and on surfaces for hours. This means that people can encounter the virus even without direct contact with a sick person. This virus is so contagious that it can infect 9 out of 10 people nearby if they are not protected. The MMR vaccine is the only way to prevent measles. Anyone who is not protected against measles is at risk.
If your child develops symptoms that could be measles, please keep your child home and contact your healthcare provider before going to the medical office or emergency department. Informing the medical facility in advance that you believe your child may have been exposed to measles allows them to take needed precautions before your arrival. The local health department will determine whether your child needs additional monitoring, vaccination, medical evaluation, or temporary exclusion from school.
If you have questions about measles or the MMR vaccine, we encourage you to speak with your healthcare provider.
Together, we can help defend the health of our community.
>> Click here for more information and resources from the Indiana Department of Health