HONOLULU — A Hawaii elementary school sent a letter to families mistakenly reporting that a student had contracted measles, state health officials said.
The Department of Education said the letter was sent by Daniel K. Inouye Elementary School on Oahu Monday, Hawaii Public Radio reported.
There has been no new reported case of measles in the islands, said Janice Okubo, a state Department of Health spokeswoman.
The report originated from parents who believed their prekindergarten child had contracted the infectious disease, Okubo said.
The health department determined the child did not have measles and families with students at the school in Wahiawa received a second letter Tuesday informing them of the updated finding, officials said.
The original letter from the school was distributed out of an abundance of caution, an education department official said.
Hawaii has had four cases of people infected with measles this year, including one resident and three visitors, officials said.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website describes measles as a “very contagious” acute viral respiratory illness with symptoms including rashes, high fever, coughing, runny noses, and watery eyes. People are considered contagious from four to 14 days after rashes appear.
More than 50 people in Samoa, primarily children, have died from the illness since October, officials said.
People should be vaccinated against the measles and take precautions if they plan to travel abroad during the holidays, Hawaii health officials said.
