NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — The measles is now in Middle Tennessee, making it one of 18 states with confirmed cases.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the national measles outbreak has grown to include over 300 cases and two deaths. Texas currently leads the nation in measles cases, with forty patients hospitalized.
"Tennessee is no where close to what Texas is experiencing but it shows you how tenuous it is to maintain health against measles," said Dr. Buddy Creech, Professor of Infectious Diseases at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. "We think that you only have to have five or ten percent [people] in your community to be unvaccinated for measles to find a foothold and to run rampant."
Not much is known about the confirmed case here other than the person is from Middle Tennessee and they're recovering at home.
If another case pops up, the Tennessee Health Department and CDC have a plan for how school districts should respond.
The highly contagious virus has symptoms of a high fever, cough, runny nose and red or watery eyes, followed by a rash on the chest, face or legs.
By the time the rash shows, the virus may have already spread to others.
"Children and adults are contagious from about four days before their rash starts until about four days after their rash starts — that’s an entire week." Creech explained. "So you can imagine that is very difficult to then track down who might be exposed if they are under vaccinated."
During the 2023-24 school year, Davidson County reported 91.3% of kindergartners were vaccinated. Meanwhile, Clarksville-Montgomery County had a 92% immunization rate.
If a case is suspected in the classroom, the student or staff member will wear a face mask and be placed in a private room.
Then, they will be escorted out of the school via a less-used hallway and that room will be disinfected after a two-hour holding period, in which the windows should be left open with the door closed for at least two hours.
"We want to make sure that we are cleaning things carefully," Creech said. "Measles is one of the most contagious viruses that we have and it can live in the environment for at least a few hours after a case walks into a room. So we are going to be teaching our schools and our nurses how to clean those rooms effectively while also protecting ourselves."
During a suspected case, the school would also be required to review immunization records of all students and send out letters to parents and guardians.
"It might make sense for [students] to not come to school if they have any respiratory infections or any rash symptoms of course," Creech told News 2.
If a student already has or received an immunization within 72 hours of exposure, they can remain in school. Otherwise, they must stay home for about 21 days if exposed.
Any patients with measles would be required to stay home for four days after their rash appeared.
According to Dr. Creech, this virus is unlike any other childhood virus. He said one out of every five kids who get measles will have to be hospitalized.
"So what’s the take home message?" Creech asked. "Get vaccinated if you aren’t, get your children vaccinated because that’s the most sure fire way to protect against this potentially fatal virus."
News 2 reached out to Middle Tennessee's largest school districts, many of them saying they will follow the health department's guidance.
Metro Nashville Public Schools said in a statement:
"We work closely with the Metro Nashville Public Health Department on a range of public health efforts, including our nursing program, contact tracing, vaccinations, and responses to public health concerns.
The best response to a potential health issue is a preventative one. Under state law, students enrolled in K–12 schools in Tennessee are required to receive the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine unless they qualify for a medical or religious exemption. Measles is a preventable illness, and vaccination remains the most effective protection. Families can get those vaccinations through their provider or the MPHD vaccine clinics.
If there were a confirmed measles case connected to a school, we would coordinate with the Health Department on an appropriate response. This would include supporting contact tracing efforts to ensure that families and staff are notified and can monitor for symptoms, pursue testing, and receive treatment if needed."
Metro Nashville Public Schools
The Clarksville-Montgomery County School System said in part:
"A student who contracts measles is required to be excluded from school for at least four days after the beginning of the rash and after receiving a medical release. If a case is confirmed at a school, the school nurse will send a Communicable Disease Notification for measles, or numerous other communicable diseases, to parents/guardians of students who may have been exposed. Additionally, per policy, CMCSS reports any cases of measles to the Montgomery County Health Department."
Clarksville-Montgomery Schools
Wilson, Williamson, and Rutherford County school districts all told News 2 they would follow the health department's instruction.