Oxford Area High School closed Friday after confirmed case of measles

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WPVI

OXFORD, Pa. (WPVI) -- The Oxford Area High School in Chester County will be closed Friday after a confirmed case of measles was identified within the school community.

The school district announced the closure in a letter sent to families Thursday.

"We understand that news like this may be concerning for families," the district wrote. "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."

School officials said the Chester County Health Department will contact anyone believed to have been exposed.

The announcement comes as Pennsylvania has surpassed 1,000 measles cases, with 86 cases reported in Chester County.

Earlier this week, Jeanne Franklin, director of the Chester County Health Department, said officials had been working closely with school nurses and superintendents ahead of the school year because of concerns about measles transmission.

According to the district's letter, anyone who is not vaccinated against measles, or cannot provide proof of vaccination, must stay away from school and school-related activities for 21 days following a potential exposure.

Measles is a highly contagious virus that spreads through the air or direct contact.

Early symptoms include cough, runny nose, fever as high as 104 Fahrenheit, and red, watery eyes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Two to three days after symptoms start, patients may develop Koplik spots, which are tiny white spots that may appear inside the mouth on the inner cheek.

Three to five days after symptoms start, patients may experience a rash, first appearing on the face at the hairline before moving downwards to the neck, chest, stomach, arms, legs and feet. Fever may spike even higher than 104 F when the rash appears, the CDC says.

The CDC currently recommends that people receive two doses of the MMR vaccine, the first at ages 12 to 15 months and the second between 4 and 6 years old. One dose is 93% effective in preventing measles infection, and two doses are 97% effective, the CDC says.

Click here to read the full letter sent by the Oxford Area School District.