Campus Protocol
If a member of the TLU community is diagnosed with or suspected of having measles, please report it to  TLU Health & Wellness – healthservices@tlu.edu _ immediately. Health & Wellness will then alert TLU administration and be in contact with the Texas department of Health for the latest guidance.

Symptoms
Measles (rubeola) is a highly contagious acute viral respiratory illness. According to the Texas Department of Health and Human Services, early symptoms include a mild to moderate fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, and sore throat. A few days later, tiny blue-white spots may appear inside the mouth, and a red or reddish-brown rash that starts at the hairline and spreads down the body may develop along with a high fever. Fever may spike to more than 104°F. 

Contagion
Measles is highly contagious. However, it is rare that vaccinated individuals develop measles, although it does occasionally happen. It is transmitted from one person to another through sneezes or coughs. Also, measles can live for up to two hours in an airspace where an infected person coughs or sneezes. Surfaces can also be infected, and the virus can spread when someone touches an infected surface and then touches their eyes, nose, or mouth. 

Measles is most communicable during the three to five days preceding the rash onset, and an infected person can pass it along for up to four days after they notice the rash. 
The rash usually appears about two weeks after a person is exposed, and the incubation period ranges from seven to twenty-one days (average ten to twelve days). Immunocompromised patients may not develop the rash. 

Vaccinated individuals rarely contract measles, but when they do, they may have an atypical clinical presentation—typically a shorter rash duration or atypical rash presentation, and possible lack of fever, cough, coryza or conjunctivitis.

People at high risk for severe illness and complications from measles include infants and children under five, adults aged over twenty, pregnant women, and those with compromised immune systems.

Infection Control
•    If a member of the TLU community presents with symptoms that are consistent with measles, they should be isolated from the rest of the campus population immediately. If they are diagnosed with measles, they should not return to campus until four days after the rash onset. 
•    If a student has symptoms, they should contact their health care provider or TLU Care or contact healthservices@tlu.edu to get a referral to be seen at the Rapid Urgent Care, 920 W. Court St. Ste 100, Seguin, TX 78155. 

•    If a person is suspected of having measles, they should remain at home until four days after rash onset or until a medical provider has ruled out measles as a possible diagnosis.

 Follow-Up 

If a member of the TLU community is diagnosed with measles, TLU follow-up will include:
•    Notifying the appropriate health organizations 
•    Identifying anyone else exposed
•    Notifying those who might have been exposed
•    Contact the Facilities Department to have the affected areas treated 

Who should be considered exposed?
•    Anyone who was in the same room or in close contact as the ill individual during the infectious period (four days before rash onset until four days after rash onset).
•    Anyone who was in the room up to two hours after the ill individual left the room during the infectious period.
•    Anyone who was in shared areas such as classrooms, the dining hall, or other common areas like dorm lobbies, etc.

Take care of yourself, take precautions, and if you feel sick, isolate until you’ve seen a healthcare professional for diagnosis. 

Health Department Contact Information

Guadalupe County
Guadalupe County Health Department
Phone: 830-372-0841

All Other Counties
Texas Department of State Health Services
Public Health Region 8
Phone: 210-949-2121