The Tennessee Department of Health (TDH) has confirmed the state’s first case of measles for 2025 amid an outbreak that has hit a number of states across the country.

Late last week, TDH said that a resident in Middle Tennessee tested positive after being infected in early March and is currently recovering at home.

Tennessee is the 18^th state to report at least one measles case in 2025. As previously reported in CMM, the other 17 states include: Alaska, California, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Vermont, and Washington.

The largest number of cases remains in Texas, where the outbreak started, with the Texas Department of State Health Services reporting a total of 327 cases as of Tuesday. The outbreak then spread to neighboring New Mexico, where the New Mexico Department of Health’s latest report on Tuesday confirmed  a total of 43 cases.

Also as of Tuesday, the Oklahoma State Department of Health has reported a total of nine cases, with seven confirmed and two probable.

As most cases of measles have occurred in people who have been unvaccinated, state health departments are encouraging parents and caretakers to bring children in for their vaccinations. This week the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment sent text messages and email notifications to families of more than 101,000 children aged 12 months through 18 years whose records in the Colorado Immunization Information System show their child/children may be overdue for their first measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine.

ISSA, the worldwide cleaning industry association, is proud to announce the winners of its first-ever Spotless Spaces Competition, sponsored by Tork, an Essity Brand. This exclusive ISSA-member benefit spotlights outstanding cleaning environments worldwide, celebrating the critical work of cleaning professionals in maintaining safe, healthy, and pristine facilities.

“The Spotless Spaces Competition exemplifies our industry’s unwavering commitment to excellence and innovation,” said ISSA Executive Director John Barrett. “These winners set the gold standard for cleanliness and hygiene, creating spaces where health, safety, and well-being thrive. Their achievements serve as benchmarks for the entire industry.”

The competition recognizes excellence in three categories:

1. Tork Think Ahead Facility Excellence Award Winner: The in-house cleaning team for Gathering Place Public Park in Tulsa, OK.
2. U.S. Spotless Space of the Year Winner: The in-house cleaning team at the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority for the Archives and Virginia Square Metro Stations in Washington, D.C. and Virginia.
3. International Spotless Space of the Year Winner: Hygiene & Sanitization Services – Fiji LTD, the building service contractor for Labasa Hospital, Nadi Hospital, and CWM Hospital in Fiji.

The Tork Think Ahead Facility Excellence Award, sponsored by Tork, honors a facility that demonstrates a best-in-class approach to sustainable hygiene management. The U.S. and International Spotless Space of the Year winners were selected through an extensive voting process that engaged both industry professionals and the general public.

“We are thrilled to recognize Gathering Place Public Park as the recipient of the Tork Think Ahead Facility Excellence Award,” said Matthew Urmanski, Vice President of Sales & Marketing North America at Essity. “Gathering Place Public Park embodies the highest standards in sustainable hygiene management, implementing innovative solutions that enhance business outcomes. Their forward-thinking approach underscores the critical role of smart hygiene practices in creating cleaner, safer, more sustainable, and accessible spaces.”

The Spotless Spaces Competition is a key highlight of International Cleaning Week 2025, held from March 23-29. This global event underscores the cleaning industry’s vital role in protecting public health and driving economic impact.

For more information about the Spotless Spaces Competition and its winners, visit www.issa.com/advocacy/international-cleaning-week/spotless-spaces-winners/.