An outbreak of measles in healthcare workers

Aim. Describe an outbreak of measles in five health care workers at the University Hospital of Udine. Methods. Measles is a highly contagious airborne infectious disease. The incubation period is 7-18 days; contagiousness from 1-2 days before symptoms until 4 days after rash onset; rash observable 7-18 days after exposure. Results. Index case: patient coming from a trip in Thailand and admitted to Infectious Diseases Department with suspected tropical disease. A rash appears in second day and measles is diagnosed. Patient starts airborne isolation. 2nd case: physician who visit case index before isolation; fever after 8 days and rash after 15 days. Admitted in airborne isolation.3rd case: housekeeping who made the environmental hygiene in index-case room before isolation. Compare fever after 10 days. Isolated at home. 4th case: physician who shares studio with 2nd case. Joins a medical congress during incubation of disease. Isolated at home. 5th case: physician who attends the medical congress; develop symptoms after 10 days. Conclusions. The risk related to measles exposure is a topic poorly perceived by Healthcare Professionals. Prevention is based on vaccination and the application of airborne isolation precautions. CDC guidelines indicate to exclude susceptible healthcare professionals from the 5th day after first exposure up to 21st day after last exposure and it is possible to propose vaccination and post-exposure within 72 h. In adults the disease may present a greater risk of complications.