Measles Update

 

Update on Measles 

The Glen Montessori School recently received guidance from the Allegheny County Health Department regarding the current measles outbreak in Pennsylvania. We are sharing this information with Glen families and reaffirming our illness and immunization policies.

 

What You Should Know:

Measles is a highly contagious viral illness that spreads through the air, often when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The virus lingers on surfaces and in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves the area. In addition to a rash, measles symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes. Some people may suffer severe complications, such as pneumonia (infection of the lungs) and encephalitis (swelling of the brain), and some may be hospitalized or die. 

Individuals are contagious from four days before to four days after the rash appears. Symptoms usually appear 7–14 days after exposure but can take up to 21 days.

Vaccines provide the best protection against measles, specifically two doses of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. Two doses of the MMR vaccine provide approximately 97% protection; one dose offers 93% protection. Most people who are fully vaccinated with MMR will be protected for life. 

 

Vaccination Information

The Glen requires students to be vaccinated in accordance with Pennsylvania Department of Health requirements. Fortunately, our school has a very low rate of students who are not vaccinated on schedule.

Your child’s pediatrician is the best resource for determining whether your child’s immunizations are up to date and whether any additional recommendations apply. Vaccines are also available through primary care providers, urgent care centers, pharmacies, federally funded health centers, state health centers, and local health departments.

In the event of a community outbreak, or if directed by the County Health Department, students whose immunizations are not current according to the recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the U.S. Public Health Service may be excluded from school until they are properly immunized or the outbreak has concluded, and it has been determined that the community is no longer at risk. Tuition remains non-refundable during any period of exclusion, as outlined in The Glen’s Family Handbook.

 

The Glen’s Response During an Infectious Disease Outbreak

We will continue to enforce The Glen’s Health Policy and ask families to keep children home when they are ill.

     – Measles often begins with symptoms that resemble other common illnesses, including high fever, runny nose, cough, red or watery eyes, and sore throat.

      – If your child develops these symptoms, regardless of severity, please contact your pediatrician for guidance before returning to school.

We will notify families of confirmed cases in our community as soon as practicable, including situations involving direct exposure through shared classrooms or common spaces within the exposure window.

The Glen will follow all guidance and directives from the Allegheny County Health Department, Pennsylvania Department of Health, and the Department of Education regarding individual cases and community outbreaks.

 

Please direct any questions about this information to Jackie Herrmann, Head of School.