Chester County high school closes after measles exposure

The Oxford Area High School in East Nottingham Township, Chester County, closed on Friday due to “a confirmed measles case associated with our school community,” according to a statement from the Oxford Area School District. 

No additional information was provided regarding whether the infection originated in a student, staff worker or other community member. Local public health officials did not respond to a request for more details.

The Chester County Health Department, which is leading the response to the exposure, says anyone unvaccinated or unable to prove their vaccination status must stay away from the school and school functions for 21 days.

The department is conducting exposure investigations and will contact those believed to be exposed with instructions and recommendations.

“We understand that news like this may be concerning for families,” said a press release from the Oxford Area School District. “The health and well-being of our students, staff, and community are incredibly important to us, and we recognize that receiving this information can raise questions, concerns, and uncertainty.”

While the school district said it retains vaccination records for students, part of the reason for the closure was to verify immunity documentation for staff members. The district said the school building also underwent “enhanced cleaning and disinfection.”

A spokesperson for the Pennsylvania Department of Education referred questions to the state Department of Health.

A Department of Health spokesperson said the department “generally does not recommend school closure for outbreaks of infectious diseases. The decision to close a school is an administrative decision and one that should be made only after consultation with public health officials and the district medical personnel.”

The Chester County Health Department did not respond to questions from the Capital-Star.

According to the state Department of Health, there have been 1,136 measles cases across 41 counties in Pennsylvania this year, with 157 of those recorded in the last week.

Roughly one in five cases have resulted in hospitalizations and there have been five reported measles-associated deaths.

Less than 1% of cases recorded in Pennsylvania have affected fully vaccinated people.

Chester County is one of 12 counties in the state in which the Department of Health has found evidence of community transmission, meaning the disease is spreading from community member to community member without being brought in from outside. 

Two doses of the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine provide 97% lifetime protection. The Chester County Health Department has information on free MMR vaccine clinics in the area over the next month. 

Outside of Chester County, people can contact their doctor or local health department for more information on where and whether they should get vaccinated.