As measles cases rise across the country, healthcare facilities must remain vigilant in their infection prevention efforts. This highly contagious airborne virus can spread rapidly in clinical environments, making preparation critical to protecting patients, staff, and visitors. KBS partners with hospitals, outpatient clinics, and healthcare systems to support readiness through advanced cleaning protocols and proactive infection prevention strategies.
Understanding Measles and Its Impact
Measles is caused by a virus transmitted through respiratory droplets. Common symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, conjunctivitis, and a characteristic rash. In severe cases, it can lead to pneumonia, encephalitis, or death—particularly among unvaccinated individuals, infants, and those with weakened immune systems. As of March 20, 2025, the CDC has confirmed 378 cases across 17 states, with two measles-related deaths reported in the U.S. this year. While the virus can remain airborne for over two hours, it can also remain viable on surfaces during that time, increasing the risk of indirect transmission. This underscores the importance of comprehensive terminal cleaning and disinfection protocols in healthcare and congregate settings to help stop the spread.
How Healthcare Facilities Can Prepare for Measles Patients
Healthcare environments must take a proactive approach to measles preparedness to prevent outbreaks and protect vulnerable populations. Essential measures include:
- Quick Identification and Isolation – Patients suspected of having measles should be placed in airborne infection isolation rooms (AIIRs) when available. If not, temporary isolation should be implemented and staff should use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), including N95 respirators.
- Enhancing Cleaning and Disinfection – Measles virus can remain infectious on surfaces for up to two hours. High-touch areas, patient rooms, waiting areas, and shared equipment must be thoroughly disinfected with EPA-registered products effective against the virus.
- Ventilation and Airborne Precautions – Facilities should ensure that HVAC systems provide proper air exchanges and that negative pressure rooms are functional where applicable.
- Staff Education and Exposure Response – Healthcare teams should be trained to recognize measles symptoms, use PPE correctly, and follow post-exposure protocols to limit transmission risk.
How KBS Supports Healthcare Partners
At KBS, we understand that infection prevention is a cornerstone of patient safety. Our team of trained healthcare cleaning professionals is equipped to support hospitals and clinics with:
- Enhanced Terminal Cleaning & Disinfection – We follow CDC and APIC guidelines for cleaning and disinfecting measles-exposed areas, ensuring proper dwell times and effective use of disinfectants.
- Rapid Response Cleaning Teams – Our specialized infection control response teams can be quickly deployed to deliver deep cleaning services in areas affected by measles exposure.
- Airborne Isolation Room Cleaning Expertise – We ensure AIIRs and other isolation spaces are thoroughly cleaned and disinfected, with proper containment measures in place to prevent cross-contamination.
- Ongoing Training & Compliance Support – Our cleaning teams are continuously trained in evolving infection prevention protocols, ensuring our healthcare partners remain survey-ready and compliant with regulatory standards.
Partner with KBS for Infection Prevention Excellence
As measles cases rise, healthcare facilities must stay ahead with strong infection control strategies. KBS is committed to providing expert cleaning solutions that safeguard patients, staff, and visitors. By partnering with us, healthcare facilities can quickly enhance their preparedness and ensure a clean, safe environment.
For more information on how KBS can support your infection prevention efforts, contact us today.
