Bristol Borough School District is the latest in Bucks County to share measles guidance with the community.

In a letter, district officials advised that although there are no measles cases in Bucks County, the Bristol Borough community should be informed and take the necessary steps to protect against the highly contagious airborne virus.

Neshaminy and Pennsbury school districts also recently shared protocols with their respective communities, outlining what to do if a student or staff member were to come into contact with measles.

Rising cases 

Measles cases nationwide have reached a 35-year high and already eclipsed the total from 2025. Already this year there have been 3,231 cases of the virus, compared to 2,286 last year.

There have been 594 cases of measles in 37 counties statewide so far this year. In 2025, there were just 16 confirmed cases.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health and Pennsylvania Department of Education advised schools across the state on Aug. 19 that they should prepare their communities for the virus.

What Bristol Borough advises

School officials stated that the number one way to reduce the risk of measles is vaccination.

In order to protect the community, Bristol Borough recommends guardians review children’s immunization history to make sure they are compliant with Pennsylvania requirements and keep vaccination documentation available in case of potential exposure.

If guardians have any questions regarding their child’s vaccination status or immunization requirements, Bristol Borough advised reaching out to their health care provider or school nurse. 

What if there is a measles case?

Measles symptoms — including a fever, red or watery eyes and a rash — appear 7 to 14 days after initial exposure, but can take up to 21 days in some cases. Officials asked that guardians be aware of these symptoms.

If a case of the virus were to crop up, Bristol Borough will work with public health officials to determine the path forward for affected individuals. Unvaccinated students and staff may need to stay home for up to 21 days every time they are exposed to the virus.

READ: Nearly 40% of Bristol Borough Middle School Students Missing Required Vaccine

“Thank you for helping us protect the health and well-being of our entire Warrior community,”  the letter said. “Staying informed, keeping vaccinations up to date, and ensuring that required health forms and documentation are submitted to your child’s school are important ways we can work together to keep our students and staff healthy and safe.”