Skip Navigation Links-Immediate-Respiratory-Isolation-Recommended-for-Persons-with-Suspected-Measles Immediate Respiratory Isolation Recommended for Persons with Suspected Measles

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GAVIN NEWSOM
Governor

State of Californiaā€”Health and Human Services Agency
California Department of Public Health


ā€‹ā€‹ā€‹ā€‹ā€‹ā€‹                                          ā€‹ā€‹ ā€‹Health Advisory                                          ā€‹ā€‹ ā€‹ā€‹

TO: Healthcare Providers
Immediate Respiratory Isolation Recommended for Persons with Suspected Measles
3/14/2024



Key Mā€‹ā€‹essages 

  • In order to identify cases of measles and prevent spread, California healthcare providers should immediately isolate suspected cases and contact their local health department promptly.


Backgrā€‹ā€‹ā€‹ā€‹ound 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is reporting an increaseā€Æof measles in international travelers, resulting in at least 45 cases reported nationwide so far in 2024. Four cases have been reported in California, all of whom traveled overseas. Delays in identifying and isolating measles cases in health care settings can result in exposures to hundreds of additional contacts. 

ā€‹Recommendationsā€‹

Suspect measles in patients with:  

  • Fever, rash, and any of the ā€œ3 Csā€ ā€“ cough, coryza, or conjunctivitis  

  • In the prior 3 weeks, any of: travel outside of North America, transit through U.S. international airports, or interaction with international visitors (including at U.S. tourist attractions). 

Prevent spread if measles is suspected:ā€Æ 

  • Mask the patient immediately. If an infant or young child cannot wear a surgical mask, use another practical means of source containment during escort to an isolation room, such as placing a blanket loosely over the head (to not restrict breathing).  

  • Bypass the waiting room if possible: keep patients out of the waiting area or other common areas.  

  • Isolate the patient immediately, in an airborne infection isolation room (AIIR) if possible. See CDC and CDPH (PDF) infection control guidance. ā€ÆInfected people are contagious from 4 days before rash onset through 4 days after rash onset. 

  • All healthcare personnel entering the patient room, regardless of immune status, should use respiratory protection at least as effective as an N95 respirator per Cal/OSHA requirements.  

  • Promptly telephone the local health deā€‹ā€‹partment (LHD) to report suspected measles cases, even before laboratory confirmation.ā€Æ 

  • If advised to test for measles by your LHD, submit a specimen for measles polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing. (Measles IgM testing is frequently falsely positive and is not recommended).ā€Æ 

Ensure that patients are up to date on measles vaccinations. Before traveling abroad: 

  • Infants 6 to 11 months old need 1 dose of MMR vaccine. 

  • Children 12 months and older need 2 doses of MMR vaccine 

  • Adults born during or after 1957 without evidence of immunity against measles need documentation of two doses of MMR vaccine at least 28 days apart.ā€Æā€Æ