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Cascade County health department ramps measles preparedness after out-of-county cases; pertussis increase noted
Summary
Staff reported a measles cluster in Gallatin County and described steps the department has taken to prepare local response, including a dedicated measles phone line, coordination with partners and options for mobile testing; department also reported an increase in pertussis cases this year.
Cascade County Public Health staff told the Board of Health on May 7 they are monitoring vaccine-preventable illnesses and have taken steps to coordinate testing, outreach and partner response after recent out-of-county measles cases.
Abigail (Family Health Services and Prevention Services staff) described a Gallatin County cluster that included travel-associated cases and said there was "no exposures in schools" in that incident. She said public-health partners there used advance screening and coordination to limit exposures and that Cascade County has opened a measles phone line to funnel questions from providers and the public and to provide consistent guidance on testing, treatment and immunization eligibility.
Preparedness steps: Abigail said the department has scripted phone routing (providers press 1; testing questions press 2, and so on) and is coordinating with benefits/clinic partners about testing sites. She said the Alluviant mobile units have been offered as an option so testing can occur outside indoor clinical settings. The department also said it has worked with hospitals to arrange mobile mammography and other mobile services previously.
Other surveillance notes: the department reported a rise in pertussis cases this year and is reminding providers about testing and reporting. Abigail said the gonorrhea total this year appears lower, but staff will follow up to determine whether the decrease reflects less screening or a true decrease in cases.
Respiratory surveillance and immunization: board members noted that RSV and flu reporting can be affected by home tests and underreporting. Abigail said the RSV immunization for infants appears to have been effective in lowering cases this season, and staff are tracking respiratory positives reported from PCR testing.
Ending: staff asked partners to use the measles phone line and said they will continue surveillance and partner coordination to limit spread and to set up mobile testing if needed.
