CDPH Encourages Provider Vigilance as Measles Cases on the Rise
Press release from the California Department of Public Health:
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) reminds health care providers to consider measles in persons presenting with a febrile rash illness and other symptoms consistent with measles. Multiple measles cases have been confirmed in the United States in recent weeks, and have been linked to overseas travel, reflecting a global rise in measles cases. Airborne precautions should be immediately instituted to prevent nosocomial measles exposures, and patients should be up to date with measles vaccinations, especially if planning to travel abroad. Healthcare providers in California should report suspect measles cases to their local health department (LHD) by telephone, even before laboratory confirmation.
Key Messages
- Health care providers should consider measles in persons presenting with a febrile rash illness and othersymptoms consistent with measles.
- Multiple measles cases have been confirmed in the United States in recent weeks. Cases have been linked tooverseas travel, reflecting a global rise in measles cases.
- Airborne precautions should be immediately instituted to prevent nosocomial measles exposures.
- Suspected measles cases should be promptly reported to the appropriate local health department (LHD) bytelephone, even before laboratory confirmation.
- Ensure that patients are up to date with measles vaccinations, especially if travel abroad is planned.
Background
In 2023, 58 confirmed measles cases were identified in the U.S., four of which occurred in California. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has seen an increase in direct importations of measles by international travelers. From December 1, 2023, through February 1, 2024, there have been three measles cases in California, all in international travelers.
Recommendations
Providers should suspect measles if compatible symptoms AND risk factor(s) are present.
- Symptoms
- At least one of the “3 Cs” – cough, coryza and conjunctivitis AND
- Febrile rash illness
- Risk factors
- 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 a U.S. tourist attraction)
Steps for providers to take when patients present with febrile rash illness:
- Isolate patient immediately, in an airborne infection isolation room (AIIR) if possible. See CDC and CDPH (PDF)infection control guidance. Infected people are contagious from 4 days before rash onset through 4 days after rash onset.
- Assess for risk factors and measles immunization status.
- If measles is suspected, contact your local health department (LHD) promptly by telephone to discuss measles testing and control measures.
- If advised to test for measles by your LHD, submit a specimen for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing. PCR is the preferred testing method for measles. Measles IgM testing is frequently falsely positive and is not recommended.
Providers should ensure that patients are up to date on measles vaccinations at all times, and especially if travel abroad is planned. Infants 6 to 11 months old need 1 dose of measles vaccine before traveling abroad. Children 12 months and older should receive 2 doses before travel. Adults born during or after 1957 without evidence of immunity against measles should have documentation of two doses of MMR vaccine prior to travel, with the second dose administered no earlier than 28 days after the first dose.
Resources
Health care providers can reference the latest guidance on diagnosing and managing measles in the resources below:
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“Multiple measles cases have been confirmed in the United States in recent weeks, and have been linked to overseas travel”
Yeah, must of been that European vacation I took. Couldn’t possibly be from all the illegal alien invaders pouring over the border. And I’m sure they’re not bringing any other diseases with them like tuberculosis. We’ll also have a more thriving economy with them all here because surely they won’t be burning up tax payer resources that we don’t have. Liberalism is a mental disorder!
If everyone was vaccinated it would not matter where it came from would it, like it not more diseases are going to come back because more and more people are choosing to not vaccinate their kids. Nobody wants to take the time to learn about what dieseases like measels, polio, and smallpox did to humanity. Unfortunately it will be their kids that will have to pay the price, not the parents since they were vaccinated. I feel sorry for you since you hate half the country because they do not have the same views as you, hate is a heavy burden to carry around.
Hate IS a heavy burden…as is utter frustration with the human-caused condition. But given the lack of reason or decency embraced by the sub-human hordes all around us it is unavoidable. Unavoidable if you are intelligent and paying attention. That is why we bleed it out of ourselves through dark humor and sarcasm. Transforming hate into laughter…sometimes a bitter laughter but nonetheless it is an act of magic and dare-I-say spiritual transformation. Want to see a wise man? Look for the most sarcastic guy in the room…
Thank you.
Bla bla bla. Farce used to add intelligent comments.
Has someone else taken farce’s name?
It’s true that primarily this issue is caused by American citizens embracing pseudoscientific ideas and refusing to vaccinate their children. However a small percentage of those who are vaccinated will contract measles (3%).
So we should not entirely ignore this component of our illegal immigration issue.