Preparing in the event of measles exposure

This message was sent to all families who have a child enrolled in one of our Broomfield schools. 

Dear Parents and Guardians,

We are writing to share important information regarding measles preparedness. As you may know, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has reported three confirmed cases of measles with two at Broomfield High School and one at Broomfield Heights Middle School. As of now, there are no cases in our school district, but there are some steps our community can take in the event there is a measles exposure. While health alerts can be concerning, being informed and prepared is the best way to keep your family and our school community safe.

Measles is a highly contagious viral illness, and we want to ensure you know what to look for, how our school must respond to potential exposures, and the steps you can take right now to prevent your child from missing school.

Know the Symptoms

Measles can spread rapidly, and a person is contagious from four days before a rash appears until four days after. If exposed, it takes 7 to 21 days for symptoms to develop. Please monitor your child for:

• High fever
• Cough
• Runny nose
• Red, itchy, or watery eyes
• A characteristic rash that typically starts on the face a few days after early symptoms and spreads downward.

Important: School Quarantine Policy

To protect our community, we strictly follow public health guidance regarding measles exposure.

• If an exposure occurs, any student who is exposed and does not have documented immunity must stay home and quarantine from all school activities for up to 21 days. * This timeline may be extended if further exposures occur.

The most reliable way to ensure your child is not excluded from school following an exposure is to have their immunity documented on file. Two doses of the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine are 97% effective against the virus.

How to Prepare Today

Please take a moment this week to verify that your child’s immunization records are up to date and accessible.

If you need to find your records:

• Contact your current or previous healthcare provider.
• Check with your state's immunization registry (for example, the Colorado Immunization Information System (CIIS) portal).

If you cannot find records or your child is unvaccinated:

• Contact your healthcare provider immediately. They can help you determine if your child needs the MMR vaccine or a titer test (a simple blood test to prove existing immunity).

What to Do If Your Child Develops Symptoms

If you suspect your child has been exposed or they begin showing symptoms of measles, do not send them to school.

Immediately contact your healthcare provider, urgent care, or emergency department by phone. You must call ahead before arriving so the medical staff can take precautions to prevent the virus from spreading to others in the waiting room.

Thank you for your partnership and proactive efforts to keep our students healthy and in the classroom.

Respectfully,

Kelly Gall, MSN, BSN, RN
Health Services Coordinator