Two students who attend Canal View Elementary School in Spencerport have tested positive for measles, according to the Monroe County Department of Public Health.

Those students and two other schoolmates, a total of four children, were asked to stay home from school until Feb. 14.

The two students who contracted measles did so after exposure earlier in the month to a toddler who had the virus, according to the health department. The other two students who were asked to stay home are unvaccinated.

The measles, mumps and rubella vaccine is required for all children attending school. It’s recommended children get their first dose between 12 and 15 months, and a second dose between four and six years old. The only exemptions are if parents provide medical or religious reasons.

The highly-contagious measles virus can bring deadly complications, says Dr. Michael Mendoza, Commissioner of Public Health for Monroe County.

“You can have inflammation of the brain or worse — seizures or even death, so this is not something to take lightly and the most important point is that it’s preventable," said Mendoza. "It’s a vaccine-preventable disease and I can’t emphasize enough the importance of getting your shots and getting them up-to-date.”

Symptoms of measles include fever, coughing, red eyes and a runny nose. The rash develops a few days in. For more information about symptoms, click here.

The school district stated an additional special cleaning was completely after learning about these cases, and also asks parents to monitor and keep ill children home from school.

"We know parents are concerned and, this is a tough thing. You really need to trust that we’re following the process that the Department of Health has asked us to follow, and we trust them," said Superintendent Dan Milgate. "We’re only putting information out that they’ve asked us to put out. They’re the professionals in the medical area, not the school district, and we appreciate their support."