Measles Scare Bars 66 Students from Palm Desert High School

A possible case of measles at Palm Desert High School prompted school district and county health officials Wednesday to bar 66 students from campus for nearly two weeks or until they prove they are properly protected from the viral infection.

The students in question had not been immunized against measles, school district officials said in a statement.

They will be prohibited from returning to school until Feb. 9, or until they show proof of immunization or resistance, as determined by what is known as a titer test.

Just one student at Palm Desert High was suspected of having measles. That student has been allowed to return to school, because enough time has passed that the child would no longer be contagious.

Riverside County Public Health Department experts have not determined conclusively that the student had measles but acted as if he did out of caution.

Parents of the students being barred from campus will get a phone call from the district’s nursing staff and a letter and phone call from the county health department, district officials said.

Parents also were advised to watch for symptoms in their children, including fevers or rashes.

Anyone with questions about measles, immunizations or the quarantine policy can contact the Riverside County Health Department at (951) 358-5107.

– By City News Service.