Measles Case Confirmed In IL As Disease Spreads Across U.S.

ILLINOIS — Authorities have confirmed Illinois’ first measles case of 2025, the state health department announced Wednesday.

The patient is an adult in the far southern portion of the state, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health, which is working with local officials to identify potential exposures.

“The risk of community transmission for the general public in Illinois remains low,” the department said in a news release, adding the case is not considered an outbreak.

Illinois has had no other reported cases since an outbreak in Chicago in early 2024 resulted in 67, according to the department, which noted authorities have been closely monitoring the current outbreak in Texas and New Mexico that has resulted in over 680 confirmed cases, including three deaths, two of which were children.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention this year has reported 800 cases confirmed in over 25 jurisdictions across the U.S., more than double the national total in 2024, according to the state department.

“The key to preventing measles is the highly effective measles/mumps/rubella (MMR) vaccine. Two doses of measles vaccine are 97% effective in preventing measles,” department Director Dr. Sameer Vohra said in a news release. “I recommend that our Illinois residents make sure that they and their family members are up to date on the MMR vaccine and all other age-appropriate immunizations.”

Most people are vaccinated routinely as children and are not at high risk for measles, according to the department. Of most concern are people who have not been vaccinated, including infants — initial measles vaccine is recommended at 12-15 months — or those who can’t get vaccinated due to other health concerns.

Anyone exposed and not immune to measles should stay alert for signs and symptoms such as rash, high fever, cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes, and notify their local health department if they become symptomatic, according to authorities.