What's Happening in Boise, ID…

The recent measles outback that has hit the U.S. has raised concerns in the Boise School District, prompting cautionary emails to be sent to parents.

Cases of the highly contagious disease have shown in in several of the states around Idaho, and the district felt that it would be prudent to remind parents about the statewide policy surrounding what happens when a student contracts the illness.

If a child has not been immunized against measles and they come into contact with another pupil who develops it, they must stay out of school for three weeks following the contact. This policy has been in place for some time, but many parents and caregivers may not be aware of it and the impact it could have on their child’s schooling for the year.

An email was sent out to all families last month to let them know about the regulations, and according to a representative from the school district, the hope is that this will encourage more of them to choose have their child immunized.

It was noted that of the more than 75,000 students in the district, approximately 770 have not received the measles vaccine and are at risk of becoming sick. Brochure printers can produce pamphlets that give parents more information about the value of their child getting the vaccine.

According to the Centre for Disease Control, there have been 133 cases of measles across seven states, including Washington, Oregon, and Utah.