Information for Schools & Groups

Measles spreads easily in places where people gather, including homes, schools, day cares, homeless shelters, and other group gatherings.

Schools and child care centers with unvaccinated students/personnel have a higher risk of measles spreading if an outbreak happens. To protect students and staff, schools should:

• Keep accurate vaccination records for all students and staff, and know which students have exemptions for vaccination.
• Prepare exposure letters in advance to inform parents and staff if a measles case occurs.
• Encourage vaccination for students who are missing MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine doses:
  • First dose for those unvaccinated.
  • Second dose for those who only have one dose (must be at least 28 days apart).
• Encourage routine hygiene by making handwashing and covering coughs and sneezes a priority for students and staff.

Other steps to control measles include:

• Isolate people with suspected measles until they can be tested.
• Exclude infected students/staff until five days after the rash appears.
• Clean surfaces regularly:
  • Regularly clean surfaces with disinfectant that may be contaminated with body fluids.
    • Generally, EPA-registered disinfectants suitable for Hepatitis B viruses and HIV (i.e., those on List D) will be effective against the measles virus.
    • Contaminated areas can include:
      • Countertops,
      • Tables, desks, and chairs
      • Cabinets,
      • Doorknobs
      • Telephones
      • Faucet handles
      • Equipment
    • In addition to the previous items, child care workers should consider disinfecting any toys or small objects that may be contaminated with a child’s saliva or other body fluids.
• Encourage students and staff to stay home when sick, and to contact their local health department for further guidance if they think they might have measles. A list of Texas local public health organizations is available on the DSHS website.

People who are not vaccinated or have other proof of immunity should be excluded from the school, child care, or other institutions until four days after rash onset. Or, in the case of an outbreak, exclude the unvaccinated child for at least 21 days after the last date the unvaccinated child was exposed.