Measles outbreak in Tucson

Since 1992, The University of Arizona has mandated that new students document that they have received immunization against measles before they are allowed to register for classes. This requirement was the result of an outbreak of measles on college campuses in the early 1990s that resulted in the closure of several campuses across the US. The Campus Health Service is responsible for managing this proof of immunization program in order to protect the campus community from this infectious disease. Most students satisfy this requirement through receipt of the Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine given to them as one of a series of recommended childhood vaccines.

As you may have heard, there have now been seventeen confirmed cases of measles in Tucson since February of this year. These cases originated from a case of measles that occurred in a visitor from Switzerland who was cared for at Northwest Hospital. Measles is a highly contagious viral infectious disease. Currently, there are measles outbreaks occurring in Switzerland and Israel, so travelers to these regions are particularly at risk of acquiring measles if they have insufficient measles immunity. Measles also still occurs in most countries of the world. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has recently communicated guidelines for the prevention of measles. The following are the highlights of these recommendations:

- Any person born during or since 1957 should have received at least one and ideally two doses of the MMR (Measles, Mumps and Rubella) vaccine or have documented immunity to measles (through a blood test).

- Those persons born before 1957 are considered to be immune from measles (considered to have had the measles infection and the natural immunity that occurs after that infection). However, given the current measles situation, it is recommended that anyone born before 1957 confirm that they are immune to measles (through blood testing).

Given the measles outbreaks that is occurring in Tucson and these recommendations from the CDC, I would recommend that all UA faculty and staff check their measles immunity status by either confirming that they have received at least one dose of the MMR vaccine or by having a blood test done to check their immune status against the measles. Either of these options can be accomplished through your health care provider.

Please share this information with your faculty and staff employees. Feel free to contact me at 621-6489 if you have any questions regarding these recommendations.