CDC Releases Measles Outbreak Toolkit for Providers

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has released a toolkit to help healthcare providers talk with parents about measles and the measles vaccine, which includes a factsheet, poster and other resources. With more than 760 measles cases reported since January, the most since measles was eliminated in the U.S. in 2000, CDC and Department of Health and Human Services officials last week urged vaccination for all eligible children and high-risk adults, including travelers and health care workers. Most of this year’s cases involve children who have not been vaccinated. CDC measles experts will discuss the current outbreak during a May 21 call at 2 pm. Details on the call will be posted online soon at https://emergency.cdc.gov/coca/calls. The NC Division of Public Health also recently sent a memo to clinicians across North Carolina with recommendations to rapidly identify measles cases and control the spread of infection.