Coaldale principal reflects on measles outbreak at his school

Coaldale Christian School is getting back to normal after being the epicentre of a measles outbreak in southern Alberta.

There have been19 cases confirmed in the area over the last few weeks after a Grade 9 student was the first to be diagnosed.

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Alberta'schief medical officer of healthsaid the original case hadbeen traced back to a travellerwho recently returned from the Netherlands.

PrincipalJoop Harthorn spoke to the Calgary Eyeopener this morning about the effects of the outbreak.

• Listen to his full interview below:

He said as soon as it was confirmed they met with Alberta Health Services and principalsfrom othersmaller schools in the area to decideon the best plan of action.

"We followed it up, and sent notices home. The first thing we did was inform the parents if the children did not have their booster shots ...or were not immunized at all,they would have to stay home after possible exposure to the student," he said.

He said at least 95 per cent of the 160 students did get vaccinated for measles, but there were a large numberof kindergarten students who didn't have their second booster shot.

Dr.VivienSuttorp, the medical officer of health for the south zone,said in October the biggest concern is the low rate of immunization because it is well beyond the requirements for herd immunity meaning a larger risk ofoutbreak.

Students welcomed back this week

Vaccine clinics were offered in the area and an isolation tent was set up at theChinook Regional Hospital to help separate those with the highly-contagious disease.

Harthorn said the health alerts warning parents to get their children immunized really sent the message home.

"It's not like we want to judge people who do not immunize, but if me not immunizing would affect your child in some cases [with] very disastrous consequencesthen we have to look at it very critically," he said.

Harthorn said Alberta Health Services did a "marvellous job" at helping them evaluate the situation after the outbreak.

The school welcomed back all itsstudents this weekafter 15 childrenwho were not immunized had to stay home in quarantine for 21 days.

Harthorn said all of their students are now immunized.

"I recommend everyone do take notice of measles and have your children immunized," he said.