Grand Rounds: Measles: A Story of Failure to Sustain Herd Immunity

Objectives (Educational Content) :

1. Review the epidemiology, virology, clinical manifestations, and transmission dynamics of measles virus.

2. Analyze local measles epidemiology, including outbreak responses, screening strategies, testing protocols, and hospital preparedness efforts.

3. Discuss the relationship between community vaccination rates and measles outbreak risk, including the role of herd immunity in outbreak prevention.

Target Audience:

General pediatricians, family physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, social workers, psychologists, and nurses.

Identified Gap:

Despite the availability of an effective measles vaccine, declining community vaccination rates and inconsistent adherence to herd immunity thresholds have contributed to renewed outbreaks, revealing gaps in clinicians’ knowledge of measles epidemiology and transmission, as well as deficiencies in competence and performance related to early case recognition, appropriate isolation, and timely public health response. Additionally, variability in screening, testing, and hospital preparedness efforts further delays containment, underscoring the need for clinicians to consistently apply current evidence-based practices to prevent and manage measles effectively.

Estimated Time to Complete the Educational Activity:

1 hour(s)

Expiration Date for CE/CME Credit:

06-18-2027

Method of Participation in the Learning Process:

The learner will view the presentation, successfully complete a post-test and complete an activity evaluation.

Evaluation Methods:

All learners must successfully complete a post-test, as well as an activity evaluation, to claim CE/CME credit.

Disclosure:

The speaker(s) has returned the disclosure form, indicating that there are no financial relationships with ineligible companies: Evelyn Pangonis, MD The following CME Committee/Planning Committee member(s) has the following financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose: Merck - Maria Cristina Victorio, MD All financial relationships have been mitigated. All remaining CME and planning committee members have returned their disclosure forms, indicating that they have no financial relationships with ineligible companies.

Accreditation Statement:

Children’s Hospital Medical Center of Akron is accredited by the Ohio State Medical Association to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

CHMCA designates this enduring material activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit TM.  Physicians should only claim the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Bibliography:

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Ten great public health achievements—United States, 2001–2010. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2011;60(19):619-623.

2. Committee on Infectious Diseases. Measles. In: Red Book: 2024–2027 Report of the Committee on Infectious Diseases. 33rd ed. American Academy of Pediatrics; 2024. Accessed May 16, 2026.

3. Gastanaduy PA, Redd SB, Fiebelkorn AP, et al. Measles—United States, January 1-May 23, 2014. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2014;63(22):496-499.