Measles is one of the most infectious diseases; up to 9 out of 10 susceptible persons who come into close contact with an infected person will develop measles. To prepare their hospital for an outbreak, infection preventionists need to form an effective measles outbreak response.
The number of outbreak-associated cases is increasing in the U.S.. From January 1 to June 25, 2026, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identified 2,134 confirmed cases of measles across 41 jurisdictions, with 93% of cases confirmed to be outbreak-associated, a 83% increase in cases since June 2025. Measles is still common in many parts of the world, including Europe, Asia, and Africa. In the U.S., international travelers with measles continue to spread the disease, and the majority of people who got measles were unvaccinated. These factors make measles a key area of focus for infection prevention teams for the foreseeable future. To help infection prevention teams stay informed, the CDC provides a measles tracker, updated weekly, which offers valuable awareness of current trends and outbreaks.
Managing measles in healthcare settings: A guide for infection preventionists
Planning is essential, whether your hospital is in a community with known measles or not. Review your processes and ensure leadership, providers, and others are aware of how suspected or confirmed patients with measles are managed.
As an infection preventionist, once measles is identified in the healthcare setting, you know that you’re dealing with a highly contagious virus that is transmitted by direct contact with infectious droplets or by particles in the air that can remain infectious for up to two hours even after an infected person has left the area. With that said, timeliness is critical, and facilities need to identify infectious patients as early as possible.
When a case occurs in a healthcare facility, many extensive measures must be taken immediately, including:
- Decisions with patient placement, including patient isolation in a special airborne infection isolation room (AIIR) if available
- Use of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) by healthcare personnel
- Exclusion of susceptible healthcare personnel from patient care activities
- Mandated reporting to public health
- Identification of exposed staff
- Post-exposure prophylaxis or exclusion of any exposed and susceptible staff
- Ongoing surveillance for any additional cases moving forward
How can you prevent a measles outbreak?
The MMR vaccine, which protects against measles, mumps, and rubella, is the most effective way to prevent measles by enabling the immune system to develop long-term protection. For adults, particularly healthcare workers who are frequently exposed to infectious diseases, maintaining immunity is crucial. This is not just for their own health, but also to safeguard vulnerable groups like infants, pregnant women, and immunocompromised individuals. OSHA emphasizes the importance of immunity in high-risk environments. There is no approved “treatment” for measles, but rather treatment from the complications associated with the infection. Therefore, prevention is key. If you are unsure if it is time for a booster or if you have other measles-related questions, the CDC has compiled a list of frequently asked questions.