From January 1st to January 30th, 2015, 102 people from 14 states were reported to have measles. This one month total is greater than the annual number of U.S. cases from 2002 to 2012. Most of these cases are related to a large outbreak from a Californian amusement park. Measles can spread in communities without adequate vaccination (low herd immunity). The majority of the people in the US who get measles are unvaccinated. However, measles remains common in many parts of the world.
Bottom Line:
As noted in the recent ACEP Fact Sheet, “A very high index of suspicion for Rubeola is necessary especially among patients with an exposure history, travel to foreign or domestic areas where disease is present, and those without adequate immunization. Immediate isolation of these patients should be considered in the ED or other outpatient healthcare setting.”
