Measles Information

Measles (rubeola) is a highly contagious acute viral respiratory illness. It is characterized by  early symptoms that include  fever (as high as 105°F), malaise, cough, runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat, , and red watery eyes. Koplik spots - small, white lesions that appear on the inner lining of the cheeks-  followed by a reddish or brownish  rash. The rash usually appears about 14 days after a person is exposed, however, the incubation ranges from 7 - 21 days (average 10-12 days). The rash characteristically spreads from the head to the trunk to the lower extremities. Patients are considered to be contagious from 4 days before to 4 days after the rash appears. Please note that immunocompromised patients may not develop the rash. 

Measles is one of the most contagious of all infectious diseases, infecting 9 out of 10 susceptible persons with close contact to a case. It is transmitted by direct contact with infectious droplets or by airborne spread. It can remain infectious on surfaces and in the air for up to two hours after an infected person has left an area.

Receive the MMR Vaccine
Two doses of the MMR vaccine are 97% effective at preventing measles.

Contracting measles

Measles Symptoms Include: fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes;
Small, bluish-white spots inside the mouth (Koplik spots);
Rash that starts at the hairline and spreads downward;

Possible complications include: diarrhea, pneumonia, ear infections, brain inflammation, convulsions, deafness, intellectual disability, or death.

For more information on measles, please visit the DSHS website.

For the measles vaccine to work, the body needs time to produce protective antibodies in response to the vaccine. Detectable antibodies generally appear within just a few days after vaccination. People are usually fully protected after about 2 or 3 weeks.

High traffic/ high touch areas such as door knobs, light switches, and hard surfaces are being cleaned regularly and hand sanitizer stations are available and encouraged for use.

Have the symptomatic person isolate and reach out to your healthcare provider.

Georgetown ISD follows guidance from the TX Department of State Health Services (DSHS) and the Center for Disease Control (CDC).

Parents can log into the SNAP health portal. Emails were sent this week for parents who have yet to sign up. Contact your campus nurse if you are unable to log into SNAP.