With this summer marking Iowa’s first positive measles case since 2019, educators and administrators at the Iowa City Community School District partnered with Iowa Health and Human Services to develop preventative measures.
The district detailed this plan in a presentation at its school board meeting on Aug. 12., explaining the policies and procedures in place to limit and contain the spread of a positive measles case.
The presentation provided information on Iowa’s immunizations and underscored that families are required to submit an immunization form for their student at the beginning of the school year, which is then reviewed by school nurses. However, there are exceptions to this rule, such as religious beliefs and medical complications.
Positive measles cases spiked in Iowa over the summer with eight cases reported since May.
Iowa’s Department of Health and Human Services announced the first positive case of the year on May 29, which was found in an unvaccinated adult. Since then, more cases have been confirmed, with some of them being found in children.
Measles, also known as rubeola, is an airborne virus and is easily spread. Symptoms include fever, cold-like symptoms, rashes, and white spots in the mouth. The school district has encouraged people to review vaccination records and learn how to identify symptoms.
According to Mayo Clinic, most people recover from measles within 10 days with no lasting health issues. Unvaccinated individuals who are young or have a compromised immune system are more susceptible to serious health complications and even death.
Matt Degner, the district’s superintendent, sent an email to families, keeping them updated on the district’s plan.
“We strongly encourage all families and staff to review their vaccination records and consult their health care provider if they have questions or need to update immunizations. As always, the health and safety of our students and staff remain our top priority,” Degner wrote.
Within the school district’s plan, following notifying administrators, nurses will determine which staff and students are not immune to measles to keep susceptible individuals, including those who are unvaccinated, away from the outbreak. These individuals will then have to quarantine for 21 days in accordance with a public health order, according to the Aug. 12 presentation.
The district’s Health Service Manager, Jessica Jimmerson, led the presentation during the meeting. As a registered nurse with years of experience, she was essential in helping the district craft its presentation and exposure procedure.
“If we have a positive case of measles identified in school, public health will contact us immediately,” she said. “They’ll likely know immediately, as it has to be reported. They’ll then contact the school nurse, and they will then get district administrators in the building involved.”
The district began working with the Iowa Health and Human Services and other medical professionals early on to create an accurate plan of action in the event of a measles case in the district. They were able to put together the presentation and get the useful information out to those throughout the district.
“Public health was in and spoke with our school nurses… they provided training on what symptoms look like, what do we do if there is a positive case,” Jimmerson said. “We are compiling a list of the susceptible students. We will continue to work with Johnson County Public Health as things evolve.”
School Board President Ruthina Malone expressed gratitude toward Jimmerson and other health care professionals for their assistance in the project.
“We relied very heavily on our Director of Health Services Jessica,” Malone said. “We trust the experts to know what they’re doing – people like the HHS and the CDC. We are really lucky to have the support that we do and that we were able to have a tight turnaround on the presentation.”