For Public Health Professionals

The highly contagious measles virus is often brought into the United States by travelers or people from other countries. Each imported measles case could start an outbreak, especially if undervaccinated groups are exposed. Surveillance and prompt investigation of cases and contacts help to stop the spread of disease. Listed below are key resources that are especially relevant to public health professionals.

Case Definition

Measles cases are reported by states to CDC through the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS). Both probable and confirmed cases should be reported nationally. Read more about the measles case definition.

Measles Cases and Outbreaks

Measles is nationally-notifiable and cases should be reported to the appropriate health department. Measles cases are reported by states to CDC through NNDSS. Read more about measles cases and outbreaks.

Surveillance Manual

The Manual for the Surveillance of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases provides current guidelines for those directly involved in surveillance of vaccine-preventable diseases, especially personnel at state and local health departments. View the measles chapter.

Responding to Measles Outbreaks

Prompt recognition, reporting, and investigation of measles is important because the spread of the disease can be limited with early case identification and public health response including vaccination and quarantine of susceptible contacts without presumptive evidence of immunity. Laboratory confirmation is essential for all measles outbreaks.

State and local health departments have the lead in investigating measles cases and outbreaks when they occur

Resources

• National Immunization Survey
  Information from and about CDC’s large, on-going survey of immunization coverage.
• Documentation and Verification of Measles, Rubella and Congenital Rubella Syndrome Elimination in the Region of the Americas United States National Report, March 28, 2012 [62 pages] (posted Oct 2012)
  • Summary and Conclusions of an External Expert Panel, December 2011 [6 pages] (posted Oct 2012)
• Measles Surveillance Worksheet and Instructions
  An appendix to the Manual of Surveillance of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases.
• Measles Fast Stats
  Statistics on recent measles case numbers and vaccination coverage.
• Notifiable Diseases/Deaths in Selected Cities Weekly Information
  The most current volume of CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report with links to information on cases of measles (and other diseases) reported each week.
• WHO Statistics on Measles
  The World Health Organization’s measles statistics information

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