Measles Outbreak

On March 18, 2024, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Health Alert Network message to inform clinicians and public health officials of an increase in global and US measles cases and to provide guidance on measles prevention.

From January 1 to March 14, 2024, CDC has been notified of 58 confirmed US cases of measles across 17 jurisdictions, including seven outbreaks in seven jurisdictions compared to 58 total cases and four outbreaks reported the entire year in 2023. Among the 58 cases reported in 2024, 54 (93%) were linked to international travel. Most cases reported in 2024 have been among children aged 12 months and older who had not received measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine.

Visit Lab Tools for Measles for information on collecting and shipping specimens from suspected measles cases.

Avian Flu Outbreak

On April 5, the CDC also issued a Health Alert Network Health Advisory to inform clinicians, state health departments, and the public of a recently confirmed human infection with highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1) virus in the United States following exposure to presumably infected dairy cattle in multiple states.

Recommendations for Testing - Avian Flu (H5N1)

Clinicians should consider the possibility of HPAI A(H5N1) virus infection in persons showing signs or symptoms of acute respiratory illness who have relevant exposure history. This includes persons who have had contact with potentially infected sick or dead birds, livestock, or other animals within the week before symptom onset.

Patients who meet Epidemiologic criteria AND either Clinical OR Public Health Response criteria below should be tested for HPAI A(H5N1) virus infection by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay using H5-specific primers and probes at your state or local public health department. Testing for other potential causes of acute respiratory illness should also be considered depending upon the local epidemiology of circulating respiratory viruses, including SARS-CoV-2.

For more information: Human Infection with Avian Influenza A Virus: Information for Health Professionals and Laboratorians.