Table of Contents
- Introduction: Measles Outbreak and Healthcare Preparedness
- Understanding Measles and Its Impact
- CDC Measles Guidance for Healthcare Personnel
- Other Resources for Measles Preparedness
- Organizational Strategies
- References
As reports of a measles outbreak linked to the Mall of America emerge, it serves as a timely reminder for nursing home and assisted living organizations to revisit infection control policies and ensure staff preparedness. Measles, a highly contagious viral illness, poses risks in healthcare settings, especially among vulnerable populations such as the elderly. Here’s how your organization can address potential staff-related issues and align with current Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance.
Understanding Measles and Its Impact
Measles is transmitted through respiratory droplets and can remain infectious in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves the area. Symptoms include:
- fever
- cough
- runny nose
- red eyes
- characteristic rash
Although vaccination has drastically reduced its prevalence, outbreaks can still occur, especially in settings with low vaccination rates. Healthcare workers and staff members may be directly impacted if exposed to measles, potentially leading to staffing challenges in an already stretched system.
CDC Measles Guidance
According to CDC guidelines, healthcare personnel exposed to measles may keep working only if they already have documented immunity (2 or more MMR doses, positive lab titer, prior measles, or birth before 1957) or had one MMR dose before exposure—in both cases they must self‑monitor for fever, cough, conjunctivitis or rash twice daily from day 5 through day 21 after the first exposure and stay home immediately if symptoms appear. Those without presumptive immunity are furloughed from day 5 after first exposure through day 21 after the last exposure.
Other Resources
CDC’s Project Firstline and the American Medical Association (AMA) recently hosted a webinar to share important measles updates and help providers and clinics stay prepared for measles. The recording is now available to watch and share. The webinar featured a panel of CDC experts covering current trends in measles epidemiology, clinical recognition of measles, the importance of vaccination, and infection prevention and control measures to help prepare and respond to measles in healthcare settings. “Continuing Medical Education” is available and can be accessed via the recording page.
Additional measles resources:
Project Firstline’s New Measles Micro-Learn: Resource for leading a quick, on-the-job training about recognizing measles and preventing spread.
CDC’s Be Ready for Measles Toolkit: Tools and communication materials to make it easier for jurisdictions to communicate with the public, clinicians, and partners before and during a measles outbreak.
AMA Measles Resources: Resources and information from AMA for clinicians and public health professionals.
Organizational Strategies
- Verify Immunization Status: Encourage all staff to check their immunity status. Staff should know if they’ve received two or more MMR vaccines, a positive lab titer, or were born before 1957.
- Exposure and Illness Protocols: Review the organization’s exposure control plan. The measles is airborne and should be handled similarly to tuberculosis. Residents who are symptomatic or positive should not remain in the nursing home or assisted living for an extended period of time unless the organization has an Airborne Infection Isolation Room (AIIR) or similar system. If not, the resident should be transported to a facility that can appropriately care for them.
- Emergency Staffing Plan: Review your staffing plan to make sure the steps are top of mind, the plan is still accurate and it continues to fit the organization’s processes.
- Educate Staff: Provide basic information to staff about measles symptoms, what to do if they believe someone may have symptoms, how to handle work if they believe they’ve been exposed, and the importance of hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette.
For additional resources or updates, visit the CDC website.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). Measles | Infection Control: Healthcare Personnel – Epidemiology & Control of Vaccine‑Preventable Diseases. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/infection-control/hcp/healthcare-personnel-epidemiology-control/measles.html.