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Measles Health Alert for Physicians
August 23, 2018
This is a health advisory for Collin County health care providers. There has been one (1) confirmed case of measles identified by Collin County Health Care Services (CCHCS).
Measles is highly contagious and is transmitted primarily from person to person by respiratory droplets and airborne spread. The incubation period is 7-21 days, with an average of 14 days. Patients are contagious from four days before onset of rash to four days after appearance of rash. Symptoms of measles include rash, fever≥101°F, increasingly severe cough, runny nose, conjunctivitis, photophobia, Koplik’s spots, or coryza.
It is recommended that health care providers consider measles in the initial differential diagnosis of patients with compatible symptoms. CCHCS requests that health care providers, who have a suspected case of measles, take appropriate infection control precautions and immediately report any suspected cases to our office, our main line during business hours is 972-548-4707 after business hours please call Sheriff’s dispatch at 972-547-5350.
Suspected cases should be triaged quickly and moved from waiting areas to individual rooms with appropriate airborne isolation precautions. In other outpatient settings, suspected cases should be scheduled at the end of the day and, if possible, patient should wear a surgical mask while in the facility. Persons with measles often present to physician’s offices or emergency rooms and pose a risk of transmission in these settings. All healthcare personnel should have documented evidence of measles immunity. Healthcare facilities are reminded to review the immune status of all employees, including support staff.
Patients who develop compatible symptoms similar to those outlined for measles should be tested. Recommended laboratory testing includes polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and serology. Measles is a very contagious airborne disease. Proper personal protective equipment (PPE) and airborne infection control precautions should be used when dealing with patients suspected of having measles. Measles virus can remain infectious in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves the area
Physicians and other health care providers are requested to consider measles in the initial differential diagnosis of patients presenting with symptoms compatible with the disease, particularly patients who have traveled abroad or have come into contact with a known measles case, regardless of vaccination status. Patients with suspected measles should be excluded from work or school until cleared by Collin County Health Care Services.
It is preferred that contact with CCHCS is made while the patient is present in the clinical setting in order to facilitate testing and initiation of the public health investigation, including follow-up of potential exposures.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact our office, our main line during business hours is 972-548- 4707 after business hours please call Sheriff’s dispatch at 972-547-5350
Thank you,
Collin County Health Care Services
Download the Health Advisory here:
