Once a case is identified, it is vital to notify local area physicians and hospitals as soon as possible. There are multiple purposes for this letter:
- To reduce transmission of measles during an outbreak by raising the physician’s index of suspicion for measles, thereby identifying and isolating patients appropriately
- To ensure complete and prompt reporting by healthcare providers
- To ensure appropriate testing and prophylaxis of measles suspects and contacts, and appropriate exclusion from school/work for cases
- To remind health care providers of the importance of vaccinating patients appropriately
Given the specific situation, certain aspects of the letter can be removed or highlighted (e.g. in an undervaccinated community, the immunizations piece may be the most critical).
The letter should be sent out under local health authority/local health department letterhead whenever possible. When a case or suspect has been identified, it is recommended that all pediatricians, family practice physicians, internists, infectious disease physicians, general practitioners, obstetricians/gynecologists, nurse practitioners, hospitals, and urgent care facilities within the local jurisdiction be notified. Generally, the scope of the alert should not be limited to a small geographic area (zip code, school district, etc.) because many clients travel outside of their residential area to visit their physician of choice. In some cases, the regional office may need to send out letters to surrounding counties. Please share a copy with your DSHS regional office and central office if you distribute a health alert.