Measles case keeps unimmunized students from classrooms

HOLLADAY — Granite School District students and employees who have not been vaccinated against measles will not be allowed to return to school until April 25. In addition, the Salt Lake Valley Health Department Sunday added two more schools to the list of those impacted.

"Over the weekend, due to siblings and other instances of exposure, we now have two additional schools that have had exposure," said Granite School District spokesman Ben Horsley.

Salt Lake County's first confirmed case of measles in 14 years has now impacted four Granite schools — Olympus and Skyline high schools, Evergreen Junior High and William Penn Elementary.

At first, the exclusion only applied to Olympus. Late last week, the order expanded to William Penn Elementary because some grade-schoolers had visited Olympus.

Evergreen and Skyline were added to the list over the weekend. School officials are trying to determine how many students there are not immunized and have to stay home.

"That does not mean that those students have contracted the measles," said Horsley. "It just means they're at risk for getting the measles. For their own safety, we're removing them from the student population."

District officials are working to notify parents of students who have not been immunized, said Horsley.

According to health officials, there has been one confirmed case of measles and two probable cases discovered. All three are students at Olympus High School.

Initially, impacted students and school employees were told they could return to school April 18. That date was moved back because it was determined that one of those infected was exposed to the virus as recently as April 6.

The Salt Lake Valley Health Department has been working to track down all those who have been in contact with a teenager who has come down with measles. On Friday, health department officials said there were at least two other probable cases of measles in the valley.

According to a news release from Granite School District, less than 2 percent to 3 percent of students have not been immunized against measles.

Granite District has been given an OK from the health department to continue school operations with the exclusion of those who have not been immunized.

"Students who have been vaccinated -- which makes up at least 90 percent on average of our populations in our schools -- there's no risk," Horsley said. "At this point in time, under the direction of the health department, we continue to hold school as normal and proceed with our activities as usual."

Renee Justice has a child who attends Evergreen Junior High School. She says she's not too concerned.

"I don't know there's much worry because a lot of us make sure our kids have the immunizations," she said. "There's not too much panic right now."

State law does not require parents to immunize their children. However, the law requires those children to stay home when a disease strikes. Many parents, thought, say it's frustrating that children are going to school without their vaccines.

"That's why we need to have these precautions taken care of before they come to school," said Justice.

At 9 a.m. Sunday, Granite officials began notifying those living in Granite District boundaries about the outbreak though automated phone calls. Those calls were expected to continue throughout the day, Horsley said.

The district will be providing updates on its Facebook page, as well as through its Twitter account, @GraniteSchools.

For more information, visit the Salt Lake Valley Health Department.

Story written by Jared Page and John Hollenhorst.

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