Measles (Rubeola)

The measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine is the most effective protection. Two doses of the MMR vaccine provide 97% protection against measles. If you were vaccinated in Maryland, you can check your status at MyIR Mobile.

• UMD Requirements: All students must meet the University of Maryland, College Park Immunization Policy. Documentation of immunity is critical for identifying those at risk during an outbreak.
  • Refer to the UHC Immunization Clinic for Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and to submit your documentation.
• Recommendations for Adults: The CDC recommends that adults without documented evidence of immunity receive at least one dose of the MMR vaccine, while those in high-risk settings (CDC Measles Vaccination for Specific Groups) should have two doses given at least 28 days apart. Discuss your specific situation with your physician.
• The UHC, as well as local pharmacies, are equipped to provide measles shots for those who want them. The UHC can also test for measles immunity. Refer to the UHC Immunization Clinic.

Tracking Outbreak Cases. The CDC is the best resource for Current Measles Cases and Outbreaks in the United States and Maryland. 

Communication to Campus. If the risk elevates near the campus, or a case is identified on campus, the University Health Center will manage all mandatory reporting and internal coordination with campus leadership, as well as collaborate with local and state health departments as appropriate. The University will issue a campus-wide notification to ensure the community remains informed and updated. 

Traveling Safety. Review the CDC guide Preventing Measles Before and After Travel. The CDC reports that people who are not fully vaccinated against measles and traveling internationally or to a place with a measles outbreak are at risk. 

UMD follows guidance from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

OSHA provides General Recommendations for All Workers. 

Both OSHA and the CDC provide guidance for workers who are more likely to be exposed to measles during an outbreak. Their guidance focuses on healthcare workers because they may have daily encounters with patients and perform work tasks that may increase the likelihood of exposure to measles. Some of the activities of healthcare workers that increase the risk of exposure include:

• Providing care to an infected patient
• Working in environments where an infected person is or has been within the previous two hours (shared air)
• Cleaning or otherwise having contact with environmental surfaces contaminated with an infected person’s infectious body fluids (i.e., respiratory secretions, saliva). 

At UMD, supervisors should identify workers at higher risk of exposure to measles during an outbreak - this includes workers who directly support a potential or confirmed measles patient. In these cases, supervisors should review and assess their plans to control exposures, including the use of respiratory protection. This can include staff who provide care to a measles patient, directly support isolated individuals, clean potentially contaminated spaces (spaces that have not been vacant for at least 2 hours), or those who transport a person with measles or suspected measles symptoms.

Respiratory Protection

To protect workers from biological hazards such as measles, UMD has a Respiratory Protection Program (RPP) managed by the Department of Environmental Safety, Sustainability & Risk. In the case of measles, the RPP applies to staff who work around a person with measles.

Mandatory Respirator Use for Measles 

• Staff entering a space where a measles case is present (or suspected), or where a case has been present within the last 2 hours must wear a NIOSH‑certified N95 respirator or better. 
• Respiratory protection is required even if the staff member has presumptive or documented evidence of immunity.

Under OSHA standard 29 CFR 1910.134, to wear an N95 respirator for measles protection as required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), employees must:

1. Receive medical clearance from the University Health Center.
2. Complete the required Respiratory Protection Program training (Workday training module "UMCP/ESSR: Respiratory Protection Training (DIGITAL)").
3. Be fit tested (Workday schedule "UMCP/ESSR: Respirator Fit Testing (BLENDED - In-person") within the past 12 months for the specific N95 model they will use. You may also schedule the fit test by contacting ESSR at osh@umd.edu.

NOTE: Rooms occupied by a suspected or confirmed measles case should remain vacant for up to two hours to allow for approximately 99.9% removal of airborne contaminants before entry without a respirator.

Additional Fit Testing Requirements for Mandatory Respirator Use

• Annual fit testing: Fit testing must be repeated at least annually to ensure continued protection. A new fit test is also required any time you have a change in your physical condition that could affect the respirator seal or when you change the make, model, or size of the respirator that you will wear on the job. A test conducted on one model does not authorize use of a different model, even if it is the same protection level.
• Facial hair: You must be clean-shaven at the sealing surface of the respirator. An inadequate seal makes it ineffective regardless of fit test results. 

Voluntary Use of N95 Respirators

After a two‑hour room vacancy period has passed, a respirator is no longer required for measles control based on current CDC guidance. 

Staff may choose to wear an N95 voluntarily for additional personal protection or comfort without the need for medical surveillance. Voluntary users must first report the use to their supervisor. Supervisors must provide employees with Appendix D to § 1910.134 (Mandatory) Information for Employees Using Respirators When Not Required Under the Standard 

NOTE: When a respirator other than the N95 is intended to be worn voluntarily, medical clearance from the University Health Center is also required. 

• After a suspected measles patient leaves a room, it must remain vacant for at least two hours before it is cleaned.
• Clean and disinfect with an EPA registered disinfectant List S.
• Follow instructions on required surface contact times.
• For personnel safety in the use and storage of chemicals, follow all safety precautions and requirements of the UMD Hazard Communication Program.  

The CDC Guidance for Responding to Measles in Institutions of Higher Education provides immediate actions in the first 10 minutes when a student, faculty or staff member has measles symptoms or measles is suspected. 

1. Notify UHC
   
   If a known or suspect measles case is identified on campus, notify the University Health Center (301.314.8184) immediately. For a Nurse when the Health Center is closed, please call (301.314.9386).
    

2. Provide a Well-fitted Mask
   
   Any person on campus with suspected measles symptoms should be provided with a well-fitted mask immediately to limit the spread of respiratory secretions. 
   
   A mask is considered well-fitted when:

   • It covers the nose and mouth completely, with no gaps along the sides, top, or chin
   • It fits snugly to the contours of the face without requiring constant readjustment
   • Breathing does not cause air to escape or enter around the edges

   A simple self-check: cup your hands around the edges of the mask while exhaling. You should not feel airflow escaping along the seal

   KN95s are considered well-fitted masks and can be purchased via ShellShop. ESSR is maintaining a limited supply of KN95s to help departments prepare their inventory - contact ESSR’s Office of Occupational Safety and Health osh@umd.edu if you need immediate supplies. 
    

3. Isolate the Person 
   
   Move the person to a temporary isolation space where the person with measles can await transportation for outside medical evaluation, if needed. This will help prevent other people from getting sick. Choose a separate room (not shared with anyone else) with a door that can close and a window that can open, ideally with access to a separate bathroom, if available. 
   
   For immediate action, if there is no separate room available, consider identifying an outdoor space to use, weather and safety permitting.

Patient Transport

• When transport is necessary, the patient should wear a well-fitted KN95 or N95 mask.
• The transporter shall wear a fit-tested, NIOSH-certified N95 respirator or better.
• Transport individuals with known or suspected measles only when necessary and select a route that minimizes passage through or near occupied areas and limits contact to personnel directly involved in the patient's care.
• Notify the receiving area of the impending arrival of the patient and of the precautions necessary to prevent transmission.