Huntington Beach High student confirmed with measles; unvaccinated kids sent home

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. (KABC) -- Several students at Huntington Beach High School who weren't vaccinated for measles were sent home because an infected student had been in class.

Health officials say the outbreak has reached a new level, and it will continue to spread.

The student with measles was at Huntington Beach High School on Jan. 6 through Jan. 8. Parents received a letter last week on Wednesday about the confirmed case.

"Student safety is a high priority on all of our campuses," said District Superintendent Dr. Greg Plutko in a statement.

List of potential exposure locations and times

Health officials say 24 unvaccinated students, including the student with measles, were sent home and asked to remain home until Jan. 29. Parents were asked to monitor their kids for symptoms.

Dr. Helene Calvet of the Orange County Health Care Agency says the source of the student's infection is unknown at this time.

"It does appear that there's a second wave, so there must have been another case out there in the community that we didn't know about," Calvet said.

Calvet says there are six cases that are not linked to the Disneyland outbreak.

Measles vaccination rates in Orange County are about 90 percent.

"I'm surprised to hear that kids don't have their immunizations. I thought that's a requirement," said parent Hon Lam.

State law requires students to have measles immunization, but parents can receive a waiver for personal or religious reasons. Doctors are urging parents to vaccinate their children in light of the measles outbreak.

In Orange County alone, there are 16 confirmed cases of measles, a health official said. L.A. County health officials have confirmed six cases of the measles, and that does not include the cases in Long Beach and Pasadena.

UC Irvine's Ayala Science Library has been added to the growing list of potential exposure locations. Officials believe someone with measles may have been there on Sunday, Jan. 4, between 1 p.m. and 6 p.m.

For more information about measles, visit publichealth.lacounty.gov/ip/DiseaseSpecific/Measles.htm.