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Measles (rubeola)
Measles is so contagious that two or three minutes spent in an ER or doctor's office waiting room may be sufficient to infect people who pass through the same room hours later. OHS encourages physicians (and others) to maintain a high index of suspicion for measles, especially in people without adequate measles immunization (two doses of measles-containing vaccine). Patients with the classic symptoms of cough, coryza, conjunctivitis, rash and fever, whether in doctors' offices or hospitals, should be immediately separated from other patients, phlebotomized for measles antibodies (order measles IgM antibody specifically) and reported to the communicable disease control sections of the county health department where they live. Childhood immunization is recommended. If a case slips by, please immediately contact your county health department or the Immunization Program Epidemiology staff at DHS Oregon Health Services, 971-673-0300 for assistance with case and contact investigation and preventive therapy. Our fact sheet answers some common questions about measles. Oregon's College Immunization Law requires vaccination for measles.
Health care providers and clinical laboratories are required to report cases and suspect cases of measles to local health departments within 24 hours of identification. On weekends and holidays, call 503/731-4030 to reach the state health department doctor on call. Cases are subject to restriction on school and day-care attendance, food handling, and patient care while in the communicable stage of the disease. If sufficient measures have been taken to prevent transmission, or the disease is no longer communicable, worksite, child-care and school restrictions can be removed by the local public health authority. For county health departments: Investigative guidelines (4/08) (PDF 692K) Case report form (6/03) (PDF 48K) How to order Immune Globulin for prophylaxis of contacts to hepatitis A or measles cases Measles statistics from the 2006 Oregon Communicable Disease Summary (PDF 45K) Return to top |
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