GGD issued recommendations for medical institutions on early detection of measles cases

The Directorate General of Health (DGS) has issued recommendations for health care providers to conduct an “infection risk survey” upon admission of patients for the early detection of suspected measles cases.

In the guidance released Friday, “Measles: Infection Control in Health Care Facilities – National Measles Elimination Program,” the DGS says that in the event of a suspected or confirmed case, facilities must “implement and strictly adhere to isolation device standards appropriate to the preferred mode of transmission of the measles virus.”

According to the guidelines, health facilities must ensure that there is an isolation area for suspected or confirmed cases of the disease.

All health care workers (including ambulance drivers and technical assistants) who may come into contact with these patients must have “documented proof of measles vaccination (two doses of vaccine) or a valid medical history,” it adds.

DGS recommends that professionals, including providers, who are not vaccinated, not pregnant, or have some degree of immunosuppression confirmed by the Occupational Health Service, should not be involved in the care and management of these cases.

“Unvaccinated professionals, pregnant women or people with some degree of immunosuppression who have been exposed to unprotected contact with suspected or confirmed cases of measles should contact Occupational Health Services for testing as soon as possible,” it emphasizes.

The health authority also states that, regardless of immune status, any healthcare worker in contact with a suspected or confirmed case should wear an FFP2 mask in addition to basic infection control precautions.

In primary care, the DHS advises that, where possible, information should be posted in the waiting room advising people with exanthematous illnesses to inform staff immediately upon admission.

“Admissions staff (guards and technical assistants) should be aware that patients with fever and rash are potentially contagious and should be immediately removed from the usual care circuit, placed in a separate room or room with a surgical mask, except for children and adults who are not tolerated,” he emphasizes.

If a physician suspects a case of measles, they should refer the patient to the emergency department of a hospital within the relevant ULS, after informing the service team leader so that the patient can be immediately isolated on arrival.

Transport should be by ambulance, notified in advance that this is a potentially contagious case requiring respiratory precautions, or by private transport.

In hospitals, cases should be identified as early as possible, ideally upon admission, and security guards and technical assistants should be aware that people with fever and rash are potentially infectious, so they should immediately provide the patient with a surgical mask and redirect them away from the normal service loop.

“Information should be available both at the reception and in the waiting room (different communication channels) to advise people with exanthematous diseases to immediately inform healthcare professionals,” the DHS recommends.

The entry of accompanying persons should be controlled, limiting them to a minimum, they should wash their hands, wear a mask and not use the patient’s personal items.

According to the DGS, between January 1 and June 16, 30 cases of measles were confirmed in Portugal out of 211 suspected cases reported.