Infection prevention processes implemented at a children's hospital during a community measles outbreak, 2025

Measles, a highly infectious virus, can cause outbreaks in low-vaccinated communities. In January 2025, a community-wide outbreak in the South Plains of Texas prompted a hospital serving pediatric and women's patients to rapidly develop and implement infection prevention protocols to treat measles patients while protecting patients, visitors, and staff within the hospital. This article explains infection prevention and control strategies utilized by the hospital during a community-wide measles outbreak and processes implemented to mitigate exposures.

A multidisciplinary team collaborated to educate staff on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) measles infection prevention guidance and ensured access to necessary resources for protection. The hospital temporarily converted rooms to negative pressure, constructed a screening shed for patients arriving at the emergency department, developed signage to direct measles patients, provided roving fit testing, and worked with public health officials.

Ninety-eight patients presented to the hospital for measles. Fifty eight were confirmed via reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction or IgM tests, and 9 were diagnosed clinically. There were 810 patients hospitalized simultaneously with the measles patients, and none returned or were reported as secondary cases linked to hospital exposure.

The implemented interventions successfully prevented measles secondary cases associated with the hospital.