There have been 1,267 confirmed cases of measles across 38 states according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). There have been 27 outbreaks reported so far in 2025, with 88 percent of confirmed cases being outbreak-associated. Twelve percent of cases have been hospitalized, and there are three confirmed deaths, with one being a child.
For healthcare facility managers, it’s a top priority to successfully control the spread of infectious diseases such as measles in their buildings. A key to achieving this is addressing indoor air quality (IAQ) issues, properly handling patient arrival and training healthcare staff.
According to the CDC, there are specific standards that airborne infection isolation rooms (AIIRs) must meet. AIIRs need at least six air changes per hour, or 12 air changes per hour for new rooms. Air must be filtered through HEPA filters or exhausted outside. Also, air pressure must be checked daily, and the door needs to be kept closed.
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When patients arrive, staff must use triage areas and AIIRs to quickly identify and isolate anyone who has measles. Healthcare staff must give symptomatic patients a mask and keep them away from others, and make sure to post signs about coughing, hand hygiene and infection precautions in common areas and entrance. Hand sanitizer and masks should also be easily accessible.
Managers and healthcare officials must work closely with infection control to safely house patients, even if rooms don’t meet full AIIR standards. If necessary, they should use portable solutions (such as exhaust fans or HEPA filters) to create temporary negative pressure rooms. Then after a patient leaves, the room should stay empty for up to two hours to clear the air.
Healthcare officials must make sure to provide training to all workers on how to prevent measles transmission. They must ensure that all staff are trained, cleared and fit tested to use respirators such as N95s or powered air purifying respirators. They also must be sure that staff know how to use personal protective equipment correctly before caring for patients with measles.
Jeff Wardon, Jr., is the assistant editor of the facilities market.
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