Indiana hospitals increase measles screening as state reports 25 cases

The Indiana Department of Health said Friday that 25 measles cases have been confirmed across the state, up from 10 last year and a single case between 2021 and 2024. While none of the cases are in central Indiana, hospitals are intensifying patient screening because of the disease’s high contagion rate.

Thomas Duszynski, epidemiology education director at Indiana University’s School of Public Health, attributed the rise to low vaccination coverage rather than a new virus strain. > "We should have no cases of measles in the state," he said. He noted that more than 3,800 measles cases have been reported nationwide, with about 9% of patients hospitalized and up to six deaths, all considered preventable.

Eskenazi Health issued a statement that all patients are screened before appointments or procedures and that its infection-prevention team works with state and county health departments to monitor any suspected measles cases.

Melissa McMasters, an administrator with the Marion County Public Health Department, said the department is not yet mandating universal screening but may consider it in the future. She described potential screening steps such as asking about recent travel and checking for rash or fever. > "We’re definitely seeing an outbreak here in Indiana, and there are no signs of this dying down," McMasters said, adding that measles is the most infectious disease known.

Health officials warned that measles, a respiratory virus that can cause severe complications like pneumonia, should be distinguished from common colds and flu as the season approaches. Duszynski urged vaccination, stating that the disease carries higher risks than the vaccine, which he said does not cause severe complications.