Latest news with #MeaslesOutbreakSimulatorDashboard
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Measles in Cook County: Two cases confirmed, here's what we know
The Brief Health officials confirmed two adult measles cases—one in Chicago, one in suburban Cook County. Public exposure may have occurred at O'Hare, a Chicago library, restaurants, and gas stations. Residents are urged to check vaccination records and consult providers if exposed or symptomatic. CHICAGO - Two adults—one in Chicago and one in suburban Cook County—have been diagnosed with measles, marking the first confirmed cases in the county this year. What we know According to public health officials, the Chicago case involves an adult who had traveled internationally through O'Hare Airport earlier in April. That person had received one dose of the MMR vaccine and developed a rash on April 25. They have been isolating at home since diagnosis. The suburban case involves an adult whose vaccination status is unknown. That person sought medical care on April 28 and was quickly isolated at a hospital. The Cook County and Chicago health departments, along with the Illinois Department of Public Health, are investigating both cases and working to notify people who may have been exposed. Officials have identified several possible exposure locations, including: April 21: Chicago Public Library – Independence Branch (4024 N. Elston Ave.) and Fittingly Delicious (3939 W. Irving Park Rd.) April 22–23: O'Hare Airport, 10 a.m.–8 p.m., especially Terminal 1 April 25: Aldi in Lyons (7235 39th St.), 10 a.m.–12:30 p.m. April 27: Shell gas station in Stickney (3901 S. Harlem Ave.), 10 a.m.–12:30 p.m. April 28: Mobil gas station in Berwyn (2945 S. Harlem Ave.), 10:20 a.m.–1 p.m. People who were at these locations during the times listed should monitor themselves for symptoms, which could take up to 21 days to develop. What you can do Health officials say the best protection against measles is two doses of the MMR vaccine, which is about 97% effective. The first dose is typically given between 12–15 months of age and the second between 4–6 years old. Free vaccinations are available at Chicago Department of Public Health clinics, and appointments can be made through Suburban Cook County residents can call 833-308-1988 to schedule a vaccination. Dr. Sameer Vohra, Director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, said in a statement that "being fully immunized remains the best and most effective way for everyone to protect themselves and those they love." The state's new Measles Outbreak Simulator Dashboard helps parents and schools assess vaccination coverage at individual schools, part of a broader effort to prepare for potential outbreaks. What's next Chicago and Cook County's health departments will continue tracing contacts and monitoring the situation. Residents who may have been exposed should stay alert for symptoms and call their healthcare provider before seeking medical care if symptoms develop. For more information about measles, visit the IDPH or CDC's websites. The Source The information in this article was provided by the Chicago Department of Public Health, Cook County Department of Public Health, and Illinois Department of Public Health.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Measles in Illinois: Health officials identify 7 locations linked to possible exposure
The Brief Seven public places in Illinois have been identified as potential measles exposure sites. The state's first confirmed case of 2025 involved an adult in southern Illinois. Health officials say risk remains low but urge vaccination and symptom monitoring. CHICAGO - Health officials have identified seven locations in Illinois where people may have been exposed to measles earlier this month, following the state's first confirmed case of 2025. What we know The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) confirmed Wednesday that an adult in far southern Illinois tested positive for measles. While the individual is no longer contagious, IDPH says anyone who visited certain locations in Marion between April 7 and 15 should monitor themselves for symptoms. The potential exposure sites include: Don Sol Restaurant Legacy Fitness Walmart Kroger Grocery Wonder Wash Laundry Easy Coin Laundry Small Star Laundry All are located in Marion, Ill. Symptoms can appear up to 21 days after exposure and include high fever, cough, runny nose, pink eye, and a rash that typically starts on the face and spreads downward. Vaccinated individuals are considered protected, but those who are not immune—especially infants and young children—may be at higher risk for infection and complications. "This first reported case of measles in Illinois in 2025 is a reminder to our Illinois residents that this disease can be prevented with up-to-date vaccination," said IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra. What we don't know Health officials have not shared more details about the person who tested positive, including how they may have contracted the virus. What's next People who visited any of the listed locations should watch for symptoms through early May and contact a healthcare provider if symptoms appear. Anyone needing in-person care should call ahead so appropriate precautions can be taken. IDPH is encouraging Illinois residents to check their vaccination status and get immunized if they haven't already. The measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine is about 97% effective after two doses. Big picture view This comes as national vaccination rates remain below pre-pandemic levels, raising concerns about preventable diseases. Illinois saw a 67-person measles outbreak in 2024, while Texas and New Mexico have reported hundreds of cases this year—including three deaths, two of which were children. What you can do The state's new Measles Outbreak Simulator Dashboard helps parents and schools assess vaccination coverage at individual schools, part of a broader effort to prepare for potential outbreaks. For more information about measles, visit the IDPH or CDC's websites. The Source The information in this article was provided by the Illinois Department of Public Health.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
State's first case of measles confirmed in southern Illinois
The Illinois Department of Public Health confirmed Wednesday afternoon the first case of measles in the state. The measles diagnosis involving an adult in far southern Illinois was confirmed through laboratory testing, according to a press release sent out by IDPH. This is the only IDPH-confirmed case in the state. 'This is not considered an outbreak at this time. IDPH will update the public should there be any notable developments,' the release stated. IDPH is working to identify potential locations of exposure, including the clinic in southern Illinois where the patient sought care, to see whether any other patients were exposed. Health workers were wearing masks and 'are considered immune,' the release said. There have been no reported cases of measles since an outbreak in Chicago in early 2024 that resulted in 67 cases. The Centers for Disease Control reports 800 confirmed cases in 26 states: Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York City, New York State, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, and Washington. Those numbers were updated last week, according to the CDC website. IDPH has been monitoring an outbreak in New Mexico and Texas that has resulted in three deaths, including two children. 'The first reported cases of measles in Illinois in 2025 is a reminder to our Illinois residents that this disease can be prevented with up-to-date vaccinations,' IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra said. 'With hundreds of cases being reported nationally, we have been working closely with our local public health and health care partners to prepare for any potential meals cases in Illinois.' Two doses of measles/mumps/rubella vaccine are 97% effective in preventing measles, Vohra said. Measles symptoms may take from seven to 21 days to emerge and include rash, high fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes. Anyone exposed and not immune to measles should notify their local health department if they become symptomatic. Those with measles symptoms should contact their health care provider by phone or email before going to their office, urgent care or hospital emergency room so special arrangements can be made to prevent further transmission. IDPH unveiled a Measles Outbreak Simulator Dashboard to allow the public to find out the vaccination rate of schools so they can determine the risk of a child being exposed to measles if a case is introduced in their school. Vaccination rates have dropped since the COVID-19 pandemic. The current secretary of the federal Health and Human Services Department, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has been on record as being opposed to vaccines, which health officials fear has influenced some parents to not have their children vaccinated.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Illinois' first measles case of 2025 confirmed, health officials urge vaccination
The Brief Illinois health officials confirmed the state's first measles case of 2025 in an adult. The case is not considered part of an outbreak, and the public risk remains low, according to IDPH. Residents are urged to ensure vaccinations are up to date amid rising national measles cases. CHICAGO - Illinois health officials have confirmed the state's first measles case of the year, but they say the risk to the public remains low. What we know The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) confirmed on Wednesday that an adult in far southern Illinois tested positive for measles—the first case reported in the state this year. The diagnosis was made through laboratory testing, and at this time, it's not considered an outbreak. The individual received care at a local clinic, which is working with IDPH and local health officials to identify any possible exposure. Staff at the clinic were masked and considered immune, and the clinic is reviewing the immune status of any potentially exposed patients. The general risk of community transmission remains low, but IDPH says it will keep the public informed of any new developments. "This first reported case of measles in Illinois in 2025 is a reminder to our Illinois residents that this disease can be prevented with up-to-date vaccination," said IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra. What we don't know IDPH has not shared additional details about the affected individual, including their age and whether it's a man or woman. What's next People who may have been exposed—and are not immune—are advised to monitor for symptoms such as rash, high fever, cough, runny nose, or red-watery eyes. If symptoms appear, which could take up to 21 days, residents should contact a healthcare provider before visiting a clinic or hospital to prevent potential spread. Dig deeper Illinois hasn't seen any measles cases since a 2024 outbreak in Chicago that infected 67 people. Meanwhile, outbreaks in Texas and New Mexico have totaled over 680 confirmed cases, including three deaths, two of which were children, according to reports. IDPH is reminding residents—especially travelers and those with unvaccinated children—to check their MMR vaccine status. Two doses are 97% effective in preventing measles, according to Dr. Vohra. The state's new Measles Outbreak Simulator Dashboard helps parents and schools assess vaccination coverage at individual schools, part of a broader effort to prepare for potential outbreaks. Big picture view Vaccination rates have declined nationally since the COVID-19 pandemic, raising concerns among public health officials about the resurgence of preventable diseases like measles. For more information about measles, visit the IDPH or CDC's websites. The Source The information in this article was provided by the Illinois Department of Public Health.
Chicago Tribune
11-04-2025
- Health
- Chicago Tribune
Naperville-area children have high measles vaccination rates but local experts urge immunization for all
Though Naperville-area schools across the board have high measles vaccination rates, local experts still urge the importance of immunization as outbreaks of the highly contagious respiratory disease crop up in other states. 'The more prepared we can be, the less concerned and less severe outcomes we would experience,' said Dr. Rashmi Chugh, medical officer with the DuPage County Health Department. So far this year, the U.S. has had more than double the number of measles cases than it saw in all of 2024, with 712 reported cases as of April 10, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Texas is reporting the majority of those cases, but outbreaks have also been reported in New Mexico, Kansas, Ohio and Oklahoma. Three people with measles in the U.S. have died this year. All three were unvaccinated. Indiana health officials announced a measles outbreak Wednesday, while Michigan had its fourth confirmed case this week, per news reports. Illinois has not had any reported cases of measles yet this year. With measles spreading across the country, the Illinois Department of Public Health has unveiled a new online tool that allows people to look up measles vaccination rates for schools throughout the state, from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. The Measles Outbreak Simulator Dashboard, rolled out Wednesday, also uses school vaccination data from 2023-2024 to predict, project and estimate the size and spread of a measles outbreak at individual schools. Dashboard data reflects high immunization and low risk of outbreak in Naperville-area schools. Between Naperville School District 203 and Indian Prairie School District 204, most vaccination rates range from 96% to 99%. When more than 95% of people in a community are vaccinated, most people are protected from infection through what's called 'herd immunity,' the CDC says. Indian Prairie Health Services Coordinator Linda Herwaldt said in an emailed statement that the district is 'committed to the health and safety of our students.' As of April 9, Indian Prairie had a 98.66% compliance rate for measles immunizations district-wide, she said. 'While recent measles outbreaks in other states have prompted renewed attention nationwide, our district has maintained a proactive approach to immunizations throughout the year,' she said. Still, the district is 'continuing our outreach to families — especially those who are new to the district — to support them in meeting immunization requirements and accessing local health resources,' Herwaldt said. In March, the DuPage County Health Department put out a news release promoting vaccination. According to IDPH data, 96% of DuPage-area school children were vaccinated against measles as of the 2023-24 school year. Over the past 10 years, that number has dipped slightly, down from 97.5% in the 2014-15 school year. 'We can take steps to protect ourselves, our families and those around us by being vaccinated,' Chugh said. The best protection against measles is the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. The first shot is recommended for children between 12 and 15 months old and the second for those who are 4 and 6 years old. Two doses of the MMR vaccine are about 97% effective, according to the CDC. One dose is about 93% effective. DuPage hasn't had a case of measles since last year, when one county resident tested positive for the illness in April 2024. Before that, measles hadn't been identified in DuPage since 2009, Chugh said. Speaking to activity seen so far this year, she said, 'We are certainly concerned that measles could be in Illinois and DuPage County any day.' Jonathan Pinsky, medical director of infection control and prevention at Edward Hospital in Naperville, tied activity to travel. 'To me, it's travel to areas of the world where there are measles actively in some countries and (it being) brought back to communities that have low vaccination rates,' he said. 'And then it's just the perfect storm for transmission.' Like Chugh, Pinsky urged vaccination. 'Thinking about 97% (protection), what that means is … if there's a measles exposure and 100 unvaccinated people in the same room develop measles, only three people would have developed measles if (the room) were fully vaccinated,' he said. 'And with that being said, even if (someone who was vaccinated) were to get infected, it's likely to be very mild … compared to somebody who is not.' Common symptoms of measles, which generally appear seven to 14 days after coming into contact with the virus, can include high fever, runny nose, cough, sore throat and a rash, according to the CDC. More dangerous are the serious complications that can arise out of measles, including pneumonia and encephalitis (inflammation of the brain). People can check their vaccination status by contacting their health care providers or looking at their medical records. Or they can use the Illinois Department of Public Health's online portal, Vax Verify, to check their immunization status.
