A child enrolled at a Hampton Roads elementary school was confirmed by officials Thursday morning to have contracted measles.
The Virginia Department of Health in a Wednesday night release said the child, aged 5 to 12, was the fourth in Virginia to get the highly contagious disease after traveling abroad.
The child is a student of Trantwood Elementary School in Virginia Beach. Virginia Beach Public School officials said the illness was onset the second day of school, Aug. 26.
“The health of our students and staff is of the utmost importance to us,” a letter addressed to families and staff of the school said on Wednesday. “Please know we are working very closely with the Virginia Department of Health to address this situation.”
Normal school operations would remain in place Thursday for those who had been vaccinated, the letter added. Unvaccinated students and staff were told not to attend school through Sept. 16.
Students who ride Bus 21, which school officials said serves Trantwood Elementary, Linkhorn Park Elementary and Lynnhaven Middle School may be impacted by the illness.
School-aged children with the mumps, measles and rubella vaccine, also called the MMR vaccine, are protected from measles, health officials said. Still, those with the vaccine may get measles if exposed to the virus though health officials said they can usually expect more mild symptoms.
Virginia Beach Department of Health Director Caitlyn S. Pedati said in another letter addressed to parents and guardians of Trantwood Elementary School students that those who had not received two doses of the MMR vaccine should seek vaccination, barring a medical exemption. She said the MMR vaccine is safe, effective and mitigates the risk of spread. Most students with measles are sick enough that they miss at least a week of school.
Whether or not they develop a rash, children who develop a fever over 101 degrees, cough, runny nose or red eyes should be separated from others. Pedati said to immediately call a doctor should the possibility of exposure arise. Separated children should remain at home until their doctor and school staff have cleared their return.
If contracted, measles begins with a moderate fever around a week or two after exposure. The fever spikes up to 105 degrees and a rash on the face begins, rapidly spreading down the chest and back. Health officials said one in every 20 people with measles develops pneumonia. Very rarely, the disease can be fatal.
The state health department noted possible exposure sites related to this case:
Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters Health Center and Urgent Care at Loehmann’s Plaza, located at 3960 Virginia Beach Blvd. in Virginia Beach Wednesday, Aug. 27 from 5-8:30 p.m.
CVS Pharmacy, located at 300 Laskin Road in Virginia Beach Thursday, Aug. 28 from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
CHKD Emergency Department/Hospital, located at 601 Children’s Lane in Norfolk — Emergency Department: Saturday, Aug. 30 from 1:30-8 p.m., Hospital: from Saturday, Aug. 30 at 6 p.m. to Monday, Sept. 1 at 6 p.m.
Watch for symptoms, which can rshow themselves around three weeks after exposure. Health officials said those at risk of exposure should seek medical help but stress calling ahead. To reach the Virginia Beach Department of Public Health, call (757) 278-6290. For the Norfolk Department of Public Health, call (757) 683-2735. For more information about measles visit www.vdh.virginia.gov/measles/.
John Buzbee, 757-879-7421, john.buzbee@virginiamedia.com
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