Posted on: Friday, June 15, 2001

25 Kaua'i children under measles quarantine

By Jan TenBruggencate
Advertiser Kaua‘i Bureau

KILAUEA, Kaua'i — Twenty-five North Shore kids under a measles quarantine can get back to surfing and summer jobs by the middle of next week.

That's if they don't get the disease.

The state Department of Health ordered the children, in grades 7 to 12, to stay home and avoid contact with others after one of their schoolmates came down with measles.

The 16-year-old had been on a family trip to Europe and began showing symptoms May 30. He was hospitalized June 4 and is reportedly now improving at home.

"He could have been exposed on the plane ride home, or in the airport," said Health Department epidemiological specialist Jo Manea.

He was probably contagious from May 31 until his hospitalization, and could have infected any of his schoolmates, she said.

A records search found that 25 of the students in his private North Shore school were potentially at risk, having received no immunization shots or just one of the recommended two shots. All were placed under home quarantine.

"They're complaining about having to stay home, and I can't blame them," Manea said.

The Department of Health calculated that if they don't display symptoms by Tuesday, they should be allowed out of quarantine.

Initial signs of the disease can include flu-like symptoms, followed by rash. One of the most dangerous symptoms, which can cause death, is inflammation of the brain.

Manea said several of the quarantined students are complaining of cold or flu-like symptoms, but those are not necessarily because of measles.

"Nobody's developed a rash" so far, she said.

Whether in the quarantine group or not, any child who develops symptoms should be referred to a physician. Manea said parents should call first, to avoid exposing other patients to the disease.

Health officials have given free immunization shots to 10 students at the school and to 15 people at a clinic. If there are more cases, the department will probably hold another free clinic, she said.