MEASLES: Dozens of Unvaccinated Vista Murrieta Students Barred From School Until Feb. 7

The following is a news release from the Riverside County Public Health Department:

Approximately 40 students at Vista Murrieta High School who have not been vaccinated against measles or cannot show proof of proper protection against the illness will be excluded from school, Riverside County Public Health Officer Dr. Cameron Kaiser said Friday.

The decision comes after it was determined this week that a school employee likely had measles. Although the employee is no longer infectious and was cleared to return to work, Kaiser said, exposed unvaccinated or non-immune individuals still could be incubating the illness.

Working with the Riverside County Department of Public Health, officials at Vista Murrieta High School reviewed records to identify those who had not received a measles vaccination or had no evidence of immunity. School and public health officials will be contacting parents today. Excluded students will not return until Feb. 7 when the surveillance period ends.

Murrieta Valley Unified School District officials are collaborating with the public health exclusion, and reminding parents and students that the well-being of students and staff remained their top priority. The action follows a recent decision to exclude about 70 students from Palm Desert High School because of a suspected measles case. The two cases are unrelated.

“Even though this is the second such action in barely a week, every time I exclude people from school I weigh the decision carefully,” said Kaiser. “It’s to protect the health of those who are being excluded and to protect the community. The last thing I want is more preventable cases.”

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