Two Salt Lake elementary students sent home as precaution against measles – Salt Lake Tribune
The Salt Lake Valley Health Department has identified two more individuals who probably have the measles.
Both had recently traveled out the country, and both are linked to the Olympus High School teen who has the state’s first confirmed measles case since 2005, according to the health department.
The teen likely contracted the virus from one of the two people.
One case of measles, which is highly contagious, is considered an outbreak.
Also on Friday, two students at William Penn Elementary were sent home from school because they may have been exposed to the measles virus during a visit to Olympus High and have not been immunized.
They were among 170 William Penn students and two teachers were at the high school on March 31 practicing a play in the auditorium.
The health department says anyone at the high school on that Friday who wasn’t immunized is at risk of having been exposed.
While the infected teen wasn’t in contact with the children, the health department recommended sending home the unimmunized students. They will be excluded from school activities through April 18.
They were told to go home around noon on Friday, said Granite District spokesman Ben Horsley. In addition, one teacher is seeking her vaccination records before she can return to school.
“This is a precautionary measure,” he said. “This removal of students from school is for those students’ safety.”
The infected student is under a voluntary quarantine.
In addition, 32 Olympus students and two staff members were sent home from school Thursday because they weren’t fully immunized. However, Horsely said 10 students were subsequently able to prove they had been vaccinated.
On Friday, the school had to find several substitutes, since 25 teachers were seeking their vaccination records.
“It was a little hectic this morning,” said Sandy Decker, president of Olympus’ PTA. “Just trying to make sure the students [who are] not supposed to be there weren’t there, making sure the teachers rooms had substitute teachers.”
She said her daughter was immunized and attended school Friday. “I feel pretty comfortable with what’s going on,” Decker said.
Primary Children’s Medical Center, where the infected teen sought treatment this week, is on the lookout for more cases.
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