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Airborne transmission of measles in a physician's office

P L Remington, W N Hall, I H Davis

    JAMA
    |March 15, 1985
    PubMed

    Insights

    Measles can spread through the air long after an infected person leaves a room. This airborne transmission highlights the need for better ventilation and isolation protocols in healthcare settings to prevent outbreaks.

    Area of Science:

    • Epidemiology
    • Infectious Diseases
    • Public Health

    Background:

    • Measles outbreaks can occur in healthcare settings.
    • Airborne transmission of infectious agents is a significant concern.
    • Previous understanding of measles transmission dynamics may be incomplete.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate an unusual measles outbreak in a pediatrician's office.
    • To estimate the airborne infectious potential of a measles case.
    • To assess factors influencing measles transmission in a clinical environment.

    Main Methods:

    • Analysis of a measles outbreak in a pediatrician's office.
    • Application of an airborne transmission model.
    • Estimation of infectious quanta production per minute.

    Main Results:

    • Three measles cases occurred 60-75 minutes after the index patient's departure.
    • The index patient was estimated to produce 144 quanta per minute.
    • Coughing, air recirculation, and low humidity may have facilitated transmission.

    Conclusions:

    • Airborne measles transmission can occur over extended periods post-exposure.
    • Healthcare facilities must consider enhanced ventilation and isolation for measles control.
    • Current measles control strategies may need re-evaluation in light of airborne transmission potential.

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