Measles in Schools

Measles is a very contagious disease caused by the Rubeola virus. It is so contagious that if one person has it, 9 out of 10 people close to him or her will also become infected if they are not immunized.
It spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. In fact, the measles virus can stay in the air for up to 2 hours after an infected person was there. So you can get infected by simply being in a room where an infected person once was. Someone is contagious to others 4 days before to 4 days after the rash appears.
Measles symptoms appear 7 to 14 days after exposure and start with a fever. Soon after, it causes a cough, runny nose, and red eyes. Then a rash of flat red spots breaks out. The rash starts at the head and spreads to the rest of the body.
The best way to prevent measles is to be vaccinated.
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, American Academy of Family Physicians, and American Academy of Pediatrics strongly recommend children receive all vaccines according to the recommended vaccine schedule.

This is a reportable illness to CDPH. Please work with your school nurse to gather the needed information and report as soon as possible but within 3 hours.
- This is authorized by the IL Administrative Code Section 690.
- Call the CDPH Disease Reporting Line at (312) 743-9000 immediately during normal working hours.
- After hours, weekends, and holidays, call 311 and ask for the communicable disease physician on-call. If you are calling from outside the City of Chicago 311 can be reached at 312-744-5000

Everyone should encourage others to complete the MMR Vaccine as it is the best protection against the spread of measles.

If there is suspected measles case at school,
- Separate the suspected case from the other students to wait for pick up and escort them out as far away from the other students as possible, especially students that may be at higher risk.
- Do not let other students into the room where the suspected case was isolated for at least two hours. Disinfect using normal protocols after suspected case leaves.
- If there is a measles case, the school will send a letter to family and staff members notifying them of the potential exposure. Schools must wait for CDPH to confirm the case before sending any letters.
- The school will also identify all students who were in school during the time the student with measles was in school and check if they were vaccinated against measles. The school may provide this list of students to the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) for contact-tracing purposes.
Sick Individuals
- Exclude for at least 4 days after start of rash.
Close Contacts
- CDPH will provide a template letter with education around exposure, signs, and symptoms, and provide the school with guidance on any necessary exclusions.

Health Alert Network