TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — All patients will now be screened for measles during every visit, whether they are at Union Hospital Terre Haute, Union Hospital Clinton or any Union Medical Group facility.
According to a press release from Union Health, all patients will be asked a series of screening questions at each visit. They will include these four questions:
· Are you running a fever or have a new onset of rash in the past 14-21 days?
· Do you think you may have been exposed to COVID-19 or measles?
· Any new cough, shortness of breath, chills, muscle pains, headache, sore throat, nausea or diarrhea, loss of taste/smell?
· Have you or someone in your household traveled out of the country within the past 21 days?
Union Health states that measles cases are continuing to occur in Indiana and neighboring states.
This highly contagious viral illness spreads through the air when an infected person coughs, sneezes or breathes. If someone becomes infected, they may experience mild complications such as ear infections and diarrhea. More serious complications can include pneumonia, encephalitis and even death.
In the United States in 2025, 13% of measles cases have required hospitalization with three reported deaths.
Measles does not have an antiviral treatment; therefore, Union Health encourages vaccinating before exposure to provide the best defense against measles infection and its complications.
Measles presents initially with dry cough, fever, runny nose and red watery eyes seven to 14 days after exposure. White spots may develop in the mouth two to three days after symptoms begin, with full measles rash developing three to five days after the onset of symptoms.
Union Health suggests that if you experience the symptoms mentioned above and have been in contact with someone who has measles or have traveled to an area experiencing an outbreak, that you stay home and contact your primary care provider for further evaluation and possible testing.
If your primary care provider recommends measles testing, they will contact the Indiana Department of Health (IDOH) to obtain prior authorization. Once approved, specimen collection will be conducted at your primary care provider’s office and sent to the IDOH for analysis.
