Health Office

Measles Status: As of September 30, 2025, there have been 1,544 confirmed cases of measles, 191 hospitalizations, and three deaths reported by 42 states in 2025. The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) are working together to ensure that every student in the state of Minnesota can learn in a safe and supportive environment, with continued access to learning and instruction in the event of a measles exposure. The following guidance was provided to schools and districts to help minimize exposures and disruptions to learning if a student in our school has measles. 

Please review the attached important message from MDH and MDE to learn more about measles, the requirements for reporting measles, and how measles will be handled at Lakeview.  This information may be updated if further guidance is provided from MDH and MDE.

Important Message from the Minnesota Departments of Health and Education:

Minnesota has confirmed recent measles cases in school-age children who exposed others at school. (NOT AT LAKEVIEW SCHOOLS)

Most fully vaccinated people (having two MMR or MMR(V) doses) are protected, but unvaccinated students and staff remain at risk. With measles circulating in Minnesota, all schools have been asked by the MN Departments of Health and Education to share the following information.

·         Measles (rubeola) is a serious, highly contagious virus that spreads through airborne droplets. (Coughing, breathing)

o   Symptoms of Measles

• starts around 8-12 days after being exposed
• High fever (usually first sign)
• Cough or runny nose or watery/mattering eyes
• Rash that starts at the hairline, moves to face/neck, and then down the body. The rash usually starts 2-3 days after the fever begins.

o   Because measles can resemble other illnesses in the first few days, when being evaluated for an illness, please tell the provider if you are not vaccinated. 

o   Measles can lead to serious complications, hospitalizations, and death to the unvaccinated.

• Vaccination:
  • Importance: The MMR or MMR(V) vaccine is the best way to protect against measles.  For most people, they would have been vaccinated as infants. Two doses are all you need for lifetime immunity.  However, you can get vaccinated at any age so talk to your provider to get vaccinated if you are unvaccinated.  This is the best way to protect yourself, your family, and your community.
    • One dose of MMR vaccine is 93% effective against measles
    • Two doses of MMR vaccine are 97% effective against measles

·         Mandatory Reporting: Because measles spreads easily through the air, even before people may have symptoms, a single case of measles at a school can, and has, led to entire schools being exposed.  MN law requires that all suspected or confirmed cases of measles be reported by the School to the MN Department of Health.  (This also means any unvaccinated student exposed to measles, even without symptoms.)

o    Parents and staff are mandated to report possible or known exposures of Measles immediately to the school secretaries and the Health Office. 

§  A message will then be sent out that any unvaccinated students and staff must remain quarantined at home, out of school, and other activities for 21 days or longer to prevent further cases of measles.

§  The MN Department of Health will be notified both by the school and likely your health care provider. They will work with the school to identify others that may have been exposed, review vaccine records, and recommend post-exposure prophylaxis as needed.

This and more information about the risks of measles disease and the safety and importance of MMR immunization can be found on the following websites.

(www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/measles/basics.html).

▪ Measles (Rubeola) (www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/measles/measlesfacts.html)

https://www.cdc.gov/measles/vaccines/

https://www.aap.org/en/news-room/fact-checked/fact-checked-the-measles-vaccine-is-safe-and-effective/

Head Lice: Every year there are few cases of lice in the school.  Attached is a handout that explains lice and treatment.  Here are some key points that are recommended by the MN Department of Health, the CDC (Centers for Disease Control), and the National Association of School Nurses.

• A student identified with head lice can remain in school until dismissal time. The possibility of transmission to others for the remainder of a school day poses little additional risk since an individual presenting in school with lice has likely been affected for days prior to the identification.
  • The Health Office will notify the family of the affected student and advise the need for head lice treatment at home that evening.
  • Following appropriate treatment at home, the student should return to school the next day. Although attempting to remove nits are part of the treatment, students with remaining nits should not be excluded from school. Inactive nits often remain stubbornly attached to the hair. The treated student should continue to get nightly head checks for 2 weeks following the initial treatment.  In some cases, more than one treatment is required.
  • Sharing information, including broad notifications, about a case of head lice (except for the families of students with head lice) does not effectively diminish the spread of lice. These actions may violate privacy laws and can lead to a stigma surrounding having lice and impact students and families emotionally and socially.  It has also not shown to reduce the spread of lice as transmission often occurs days prior to identification.
• The most effective way to decrease and control lice is through routine screening, treatment, and removal of head lice and nits at HOME.
  • The Health Office will assess individual students when staff suspect they may have head lice, however mass screenings will not be done.  They do not reduce spread of lice and they take away valuable time for all involved.
  • As a parent/guardian, if you suspect your child of having lice, use the attached literature to identify and treat.  You may also contact your medical provider.  Do not send them to school without treating them if you suspect they have lice!

Information based on evidence provided by the following links.  Procedures may be updated if additional guidance is given.

Centers for Disease Control. 2024, Feb 21. “Providing Care for Individuals with Head Lice”  https://www.cdc.gov/lice/caring-head/index.html

The Journal of School Nursing. 2025, July 25. “ National Association of School Nurses (NASN) Position Statement: Head Lice (Pediculosis Capitis) Management in Schools)”  https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/10598405251360798#core-bibr2-10598405251360798-1

Hennepin County Minnesota Epidemiology. 2024, March.  “Parent Fact Sheet 2024: Head Lice” Infectious Diseases in Childcare Settings and Schools Manual; https://www.hennepin.us/childcaremanual#

Health Office Attendance and Illness Page

When to Send Your Student Back to School After and Illness?

Policy_503_-_Student_Attendance.pdf

Vaccinations Page

Final reports are sent in to the state at the end of November.  If you are missing vaccines.  Please get them in now!

Forms Page

Health Forms can be emailed or dropped off at the school offices. 

There are 2 forms that need to be completed EVERY year for EVERY Student for the health office.

1. The Student Health Form and

2. the Parent/Guardian Approval Statement For Over the Counter Medications.

•  RESPONSIBLE Junior High and High School students may keep small amounts of over-the-counter medications on them, if the parent signs both the top and BOTTOM portion of The Parent/Guardian Approval Statement For Over the Counter Medications form.
• There are hard copies available in the Elementary Office (Health Office).
• If you complete (ed) the [OLR] ON LINE REGISTRATION through ParentVUE then you have already completed the 2 mandatory forms electronically.

A Medication Administration Form must be completed for all medications to be given at school or left in the Health Office.

•         Bring to the health office over-the-counter medications for your children.  Particularly if they are prone to indigestion, headaches, allergy congestion, eczema, hives, etc. If your child is not seriously ill, giving your child the same medication, they normally get at home can help them stay in school.

 Other forms and requirements that are needed for certain medical conditions.

Special Conditions:

ASTHMA

• REQUIRES YEARLY ASTHMA ACTION PLAN ON FILE
• Inhaler Self Administration Form

ALLERGIES

• EMERGENCY CARE PLAN AND
  • SPECIAL DIET REQUEST FORM (if that allergy is a food) with a doctor’s order. 

MAJOR MEDICAL ISSUES

• yearly updates (notes)/orders from their doctor’s. Particularly if there is care needed at school.  
• The Parent/Guardian is responsible for obtaining/completing/turning in the required records, orders, medications, supplies, etc.

Diseases/Infections

For more information on common illness seen at school.

Health Resources

For information on Public Health and Child Protective Services, Hospitals, and more.

Trainings Page

Check regularly for new or updated trainings.  Keep track of the training you complete.