Measles update
October 19, 2007 4:37pm
Dear Burns Park Families and Staff,
We were informed late this afternoon by the Washtenaw County Department of Public Health that students who are excluded from attending classes at Burns Park and Wines elementary schools may return to school effective Monday, October 22. According to the Public Health Department the decision affects five students—one here at Burns Park and four at Wines—who were told to stay home until the threat of measles infection had passed at the two elementary schools. Two students are still excluded at Angell Elementary, where a confirmed case of measles was reported on October 11. The CDC is currently retesting serum samples that a local, commercial lab said tested positive for measles.
Below are portions of the press release sent to the media today, Friday, October 19, by the Department of Public Health.
“The preponderance of evidence suggests that the threat of measles has passed at Burns Park and Wines elementary schools,” said Dr. Stan Reedy, Medical Director at the Washtenaw County Department of Public Health. “While the CDC has not completed testing all of its samples from Burns Park and Wines, our analysis indicates that the evidence for excluding students from these two schools is no longer present. Unless the CDC testing indicates otherwise, there is very little chance we could see another measles case at either of these two schools anytime soon,” he said. “We’ve discussed our decision with our counterparts at the Michigan Department of Community Health, and they support our conclusion.”
Laura Bauman, Epidemiologist for the Washtenaw County Health Department, released the following rationale for lifting the exclusion order:
- Samples from the former index case of measles at Burns Park have retested negative at the CDC.
- Since the index case retested negative, it could not have been the source of any transmission to additional suspect cases of measles at either Burns Park or Wines.
- Suspect measles cases at Burns Park and Wines have not been linked to any other known source of measles in southeast Michigan.
- Test results for suspect cases at Burns Park and Wines are still pending from the CDC. Based on clinical presentation and some preliminary results, it is less likely that these suspect cases will be confirmed as positive measles cases.
- There have been no reports from Burns Park or Wines of any additional suspect cases of measles.
- Children who have been excluded from Burns Park and Wines have exhibited no symptoms of a rash illness.
- The positive measles case at Angell cannot be associated with suspect cases at Burns Park or Wines because the incubation and transmission periods did not align.
“We have not been successful in constructing a plausible chain of transmission between any of the suspect cases,” Reedy said. “Most likely, because there isn’t one. Throughout this month we’ve concentrated on making decisions based on the best information available to us, while keeping the safety of our community’s children in mind. I am confident that excluding un- or under-vaccinated children from schools where suspect cases existed was the reasonable and prudent thing to do to protect and ensure the health of our community. Healthcare providers have done an excellent job of sorting out difficult diagnoses of rash illnesses. We’re pleased that additional transmission of the measles virus does not appear to have occurred.”
The Washtenaw County Public Health Department will continue to investigate the measles outbreak as additional testing information becomes available from the CDC late next week. Students excluded from attending Angell Elementary have been authorized to return on October 25, a timeframe in which the threat of measles transmission has passed. Angell is the last remaining school where children have been excluded from attending based on their immunization status. Suspect cases at Perry Child Development Center (Ypsilanti Public School District) and Bach have been investigated and cleared.
“By being vigilant and enforcing vaccination requirements for children attending its schools, the Ann Arbor Public School District has done an outstanding job of keeping its children protected from a disease that still sometimes appears, despite our best efforts to eradicate it,” Reedy concluded.
My thanks to the staff and families at Burns Park for your support during these past few weeks. Everyone has responded quickly and efficiently to the ever-changing situation surrounding this presumed outbreak.
If you have further questions about this decision please contact Department of Public Health at 544-6700.
Sincerely,
Kathy Morhous
Principal
Comments
Message from October 11
October 11, 2007 – 6:35pm
As of 6 p.m. on Thursday, October 11 we were informed by the Washtenaw County Department of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control new information on the cases of measles in Ann Arbor district.
Burns Park
The “index” or first case from Burns Park originally tested positive but the CDC confirmed there was a reporting error on their end and determined this case was a negative. Because of this reporting error this case is being retested by the CDC and we expect results in the next 24 hours. The Health Department and CDC have ruled out two other cases at Burns Park, but there are still two additional cases suspected pending test results. Students without proper MMR immunizations will continue to be out of school at Burns Park until October 29 or if they receive the MMR vaccination.
Bach
The suspected case has proved negative and all students who have been excluded from school are allowed to return on Friday, October 12.
Wines
The suspected case at Wines is still being investigated. Students excluded from class because of lack of immunizations are still not to return until October 29 or until they receive the immunization.
Angell
The case at Angell has been confirmed as positive by blood tests conducted at the U of M. The test is now being conducted by the CDC for further confirmation. Students who have been excluded at Angell will continue to be out of school until October 25 or until they receive the immunization.
We know that the information coming out through the media is complex but we continue to work directly with the Public Health Department and the CDC to ensure that all staff and families have the most recent information available.
Letters to these four schools will be going home tomorrow. We will also be sending notices home via emails, web sites and backpack throughout the rest of the district tomorrow with this information.
Immunization Clinic Notice
As we await further word on confirmations on all the rest of the cases we have made arrangements to open up the immunization clinic that will be hosted at Pioneer High School on Monday, October 15, 4:30 – 6:00 p.m. by the Department of Public Health. This will allow all AAPS staff to receive a measles booster paid for by the district. Please confirm with your doctor prior to the clinic to asses your need for the booster shot. You will need to show your AAPS school I.D. to receive the booster and have the district cover the cost.
We will let you know when the district does receive any further confirmations from the CDC on any of the outstanding suspected cases.
If you have any questions please contact me.
Thank you for your patience and understanding as information continues to be updated on this situation.
Liz Margolis
Director of Communications
Letter from Principal Kathy Morhous, October 10, 2007
Dear Burns Park Parents and Guardians,
Today, October 10, we were informed by the Washtenaw County Department of Public Health that Burns Park has another suspected case of measles.
This child is out of school and this recent suspected case does not lengthen the time that the current Burns Park students who are not immunized need to be out of school. Those children can still return on October 24, 2007.
We are still awaiting the test results from the first suspected cases from the Center for Disease Control. We will let you know as soon as we learn those results.
We continue to work very closely with the Washtenaw County Department of Public Health. They continue to guide us on the protocol.
Please let us know if any of your children exhibit the symptoms of the measles and call your health care provider immediately.
I will also use the Burns Park email notifications to update families on any developments.
I know that the concern continues to heighten because of this recent suspected case. You and your students will hear a lot of media attention about these cases. Be assured that along with the County Health Department we continue to work together to ensure that all necessary precautions are in place to best protect our students and staff.
If you have any questions regarding measles please contact your pediatrician or the Washtenaw County Public Health Department.
If you have questions about how Burns Park is addressing this situation please feel free to contact me.
Sincerely,
Kathy Morhous
Principal
Original message, October 3rd
This message from Burns Park Principal Kathy Morhous comes from the school web site:
Measles Information Page Link…
Dear Burns Park Parents and Guardians,
There has been a reported case of measles in our school confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control.
Click on the links below to a measles fact sheet and a letter from the Washtenaw County Department of Public Health.
Measles Fact Sheet Letter to Parents
Please take a few minutes to review these documents. We are asking all families of students who have an immunization waiver or if your student’s immunizations are not up to date to please stay home until Monday, October 8, as requested by the Washtenaw County Public Health Department. [This has since been extended to 21 days; please contact the school for information.]
Be assured that the safety of our students and staff is our top priority. We are following the protocol from the Health Department to address this case.
All students who are not in school will receive work from their teachers and classroom support when they return.
If you have any questions regarding measles please contact your pediatrician or the Washtenaw County Public Health Department. If you have questions about how Burns Park is addressing this situation please feel free to contact me.
Sincerely,
Kathy Morhous
Principal
Update letter, October 9th
Measles Update
10/9/07
In our continuing efforts to communicate to AAPS families we want to inform you that another suspected case of measles has been determined at Wines Elementary.
As of today AAPS has 1 confirmed case (Burns Park) 2 suspected cases (Burns Park), 1 suspected case (Angell) and 1 suspected case (Wines).
We are awaiting confirmation on the suspected cases and will let AAPS families know of those results as soon as they are reported.
Please be assured that the district is following all the protocols from the Washtenaw Department of Public Health and working very closely with communication and detection efforts.
If you have any concerns about your student’s immunization status please contact your doctor or the Department of Public Health at 544-6700.