“Think Measles” resources from the CDC

 

Please see the following CDC guidance on measles and use the Project Firstline/AAP fact sheet at your facility to raise awareness among staff.   Healthcare professionals: Consider measles in any patient presenting with a febrile rash illness, especially if unvaccinated for measles or traveled internationally in the last 21 days.   Why this is important now: Declines in measles vaccination rates globally have increased the risk of larger measles outbreaks worldwide, including in the United States. Measles cases continue to be brought into the United States by travelers infected while in other countries. Most importations come from unvaccinated U.S. residents. When measles gets into communities of unvaccinated people in the U.S. outbreaks can occur. Outbreaks in countries to which Americans often travel can directly contribute to an increase in measles cases in the United States. In recent years, measles importations have come from frequently visited countries, including, but not limited to, the Philippines, Ukraine, Israel, Thailand, Vietnam, England, France, Germany, and India, where large outbreaks were reported.   Guidance for Healthcare Professionals: Diagnosing and Treating Measles | CDC Ensure all patients are up to date on MMR vaccine. Consider measles in patients with fever and rash and ask about recent international travel or exposure to international travelers or people with measles. Immediately notify local or state health departments about any suspected case of measles to ensure rapid testing and investigation. Promptly isolate: do not allow patients with suspected measles to remain in the waiting room or other common areas of the healthcare facility; isolate patients with suspected measles immediately, ideally in a single-patient airborne infection isolation room (AIIR) if available. In general, providers do not need to actively screen adult patients for measles immunity because of high population immunity and low risk of disease among adults in non-outbreak areas in the U.S. Before international travel, make sure your patients are protected against measles. Patients should be fully vaccinated at least 2 weeks before international departure: 1. Infants under 12 months old who are traveling can get an early dose at 6 through 11 months.  2. Children over 12 months old can get their first dose immediately and second dose 28 days after first dose. 3. Teens and adult with no evidence of immunity can get their first dose immediately and second dose 28 days after first dose. Adults who have presumptive evidence of immunity* include: Birth before 1957  Laboratory evidence of immunity (positive IgG) Prior laboratory confirmed measles diagnosis Adults without evidence of immunity generally should get one dose of MMR: Two doses are required/recommended for high-risk adults Healthcare personnel International travelers Postsecondary school students   * Apart from written documentation of age-appropriate vaccination For further information contact: cdphe_project_firstline@state.co.us .