New Resource Available for Preventing Measles in Healthcare Settings

The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) is sharing a new resource, Preventing Measles (Rubeola) in Healthcare Settings, developed to support healthcare facilities in preventing and managing measles exposures.

This guidance is based on current CDC infection prevention recommendations and provides practical, operational strategies that can be implemented across healthcare settings. It is designed as a tool for infection prevention, clinical, and operational teams.

Key components include:

• Early screening and triage approaches to identify suspected measles cases
• Immediate isolation and Airborne Precautions to reduce transmission risk
• Guidelines for patient transport and movement within facilities
• Environmental cleaning considerations
•  Exposure definition and management
• Resources to develop measles response plan

The DOH/WSHA Airborne and Airborne Contact Precaution signs for acute care have also been updated, with clearer wording on room closure time following patient movement or discharge.