Oxford Area High School Closure Due to Measles Case

OXFORD, Pa. — The Oxford Area High School, located in Chester County, will shut down on Friday following the identification of a confirmed measles case within its community.

The school district communicated the decision to families in a letter issued on Thursday.

“We understand that news like this may be concerning for families,” the district stated. “The health and well-being of our students, staff, and community are incredibly important to us. We recognize that receiving this information can raise questions, concerns, and uncertainty.”

Officials mentioned that the Chester County Health Department will reach out to anyone believed to have been in contact with the infected individual.

This announcement comes in light of Pennsylvania surpassing 1,000 reported measles cases, with 86 of those found in Chester County alone.

Earlier this week, Jeanne Franklin, the director of the Chester County Health Department, indicated that officials had been collaborating closely with school nurses and superintendents due to worries about measles spreading prior to the start of the school year.

According to the district’s letter, individuals who are unvaccinated against measles, or who cannot prove their vaccination status, are required to refrain from attending school and related activities for 21 days following a possible exposure.

Measles is known to be highly contagious, spreading via the air or direct contact.

Initial symptoms typically include a cough, runny nose, high fever (up to 104°F), and red, watery eyes, as noted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Two to three days after these symptoms present, patients may develop Koplik spots, which are small white spots that can appear inside the mouth.

Following this, a rash may emerge three to five days later, first showing up on the face near the hairline and then spreading downwards to other parts of the body. The CDC explains that fever can increase further once the rash breaks out.

The CDC currently advises that individuals receive two doses of the MMR vaccine: the first dose between 12 and 15 months of age and the second dose between 4 and 6 years. One dose has a 93% effectiveness rate in preventing measles infection, while two doses raise that figure to 97%.

For more detailed information, you can access a full letter sent by the Oxford Area School District.