Advisory on Measles for MT-BCs

Advisory on Measles for MT-BCs

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) measles, or Rubeola, is a highly contagious disease experiencing an upsurge of outbreaks in the U.S. and internationally (CDC, 2019).

Measles begins with fever, runny nose, cough, red eyes, and sore throat. A body rash follows. Measles spreads when a person infected with the measles virus breathes, coughs, or sneezes. It is extremely contagious and persons can catch measles just by being in a room where a person with measles has been, up to 2 hours after that person is gone. Individuals can catch measles from an infected person even before a rash appears. According to the CDC, “almost everyone who has not had the MMR shot [vaccination] will get measles if they are exposed” to the virus (CDC, 2019b). The MMR vaccination, therefore, is recommended by the CDC for all eligible persons in order to protect individuals who may not be eligible for the vaccination (e.g., babies under 12 months, premature infants, and immune compromised persons such as persons undergoing bone marrow transplant).

Music therapists, and especially clinicians in private practice, should be informed about the disease and consult policies and procedures regarding infection control and prevention at facilities where they work or contract services. Clinicians in private clinics should review and consider their own policy as well as advisories and emergency directives from public health officials in their region.

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2019). Measles (Rubeola). Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/measles/index.html

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2019b). Measles and the vaccine (shot) to prevent it. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/parents/diseases/child/measles.html

Back