Clay student tests negative for measles
Third false diagnosis of disease in recent weeks
2/10/2015Blood tests have confirmed that a Clay High School student does not have measles, according to the Toledo-Lucas County Health Department, the third false diagnosis of the disease in the area in recent weeks.
The student was diagnosed last week at the Oregon Urgent Care Clinic after he had a rash on his head and a fever, said Larry Vasko, the health department's deputy commissioner. Blood tests, however, are needed for an official measles diagnosis, and those test results were received today.
Health officials confirmed Monday that a Whittier Elementary student who had received an initial measles diagnosis did not have the disease, and an East Broadway Elementary School student initially was diagnosed with measles in January, but blood tests later revealed that child also did not have the disease.
The health department is preparing measles educational materials for area physicians about what the symptoms look like, a move prompted by the recent false diagnoses.
“Thank goodness the children are OK, but we have had some false diagnoses,” Mr. Vasko said. “I can understand they have a child with a fever and a rash, it was similar.”