Measles Frontline Defense: The Pivotal Role of Emergency Nurses and Emergency Medical Services Personnel

Measles was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000. However, in 2025, the country experienced the highest number of cases reported in more than 2 decades. Furthermore, early 2026 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicate a continued increase in case counts. Emergency nurses and emergency medical technicians frequently serve as the initial health care professionals who assess patients with fever and rashes. Prompt identification and swift isolation are essential to curtail measles transmission. This narrative literature review aims to provide practical, evidence-based guidance for emergency nurses and emergency medical technicians on the recognition, isolation, documentation, infection control, and coordination with public health authorities during measles outbreaks.

A narrative review synthesizing current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and World Health Organization guidance was conducted. Peer-reviewed literature was identified through targeted searches in PubMed and Google Scholar using keywords, including measles, emergency department, prehospital, emergency nurse, emergency medical services, triage, and infection control, focusing on publications from 2015 to 2026. Studies providing practical guidance or epidemiologic data relevant to emergency medical settings were prioritized.

Measles spreads through airborne transmission and can remain suspended in the air for up to 2 hours after an infected individual leaves an area. Early symptoms include fever, cough, coryza (runny nose and nasal congestion), and conjunctivitis, followed by a descending maculopapular rash (red rash with both flat areas and small bumps on the skin), which typically begins on the face and spreads downward. Proper triage assessment, infection-control measures, documentation within electronic health records, and timely communication with infection prevention and public health authorities are essential to interrupt the transmission.

Measles remains one of the most contagious viral illnesses encountered in health care settings. Emergency nurses and emergency medical technicians are often the first to recognize and halt the spread of measles. Clear triage and screening steps should be used, staff immunity should be confirmed, and close collaboration with infection prevention and public health teams is necessary to protect patients, families, and health care workers.