OXFORD, PA — Oxford High School is shut down on Friday after a case of measles was confirmed in the district, school officials said, marking the latest escalation of the outbreak in Chester County.
It's not yet clear if the infected individual is a student, or what age the individual is.
The Chester County Health Department has instructed the district to verify vaccination information for all staff members at the high school, sparking the closure.
"The Chester County Health Department is leading the public health response and conducting any necessary exposure investigations," Superintendent David Woods wrote in a letter to the community.
Chester County has more cases of measles than most states around the country. Their total has now reached 86.
"Individuals identified as having been exposed will be contacted directly by CCHD and provided with specific instructions and recommendations," Woods added. "If you are not vaccinated for measles or can't prove vaccination, you CAN NOT attend school or school functions and must be quarantined 21 days from school and all school functions."
Related: Chester Co. Now Among Nation's Worst For Measles Cases
The vaccine provides almost full immunity, and officials say recent lack of vaccinations have spurred the outbreak. Of all 1,078 cases statewide, only 4 cases were vaccinated.
Measles is highly infectious to those who are not vaccinated or who have not contracted it before, but it is extremely rare for a vaccinated individual to contract it, according to health officials. In the highly unlikely case a vaccinated person does get measles, they usually have milder symptoms.
Sign up for free local newsletters and alerts for the
West Chester Patch
Patch.com is the nationwide leader in hyperlocal news.
Visit Patch.com to find your town today.