Potential Measles Exposures Flare Up In Palatine Laundromat, Health Clinic

Written by Lorraine Swanson

Potential public measles exposures flared up in two more locations in Palatine, theCook County Department of Public Health reported.

Customers who visited LaRosita Laundromat at 1212 E. Dundee Road and patients and visitors at the Vista Clinic at 1585 N. Rand Road may have been come in contact with the measles virus.

The exposures occurred between 7 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Feb. 16 at LaRosita, and between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Feb. 19 at Vista Clinic.

Cook County health officials confirmed one additional case of measles in suburban Cook County bringing the total to 14. The cases include three adults and 11 infants, 12 are associated with the KinderCare daycare center in Palatine.

The overall risk of getting measles in suburban Cook County remains low, county health officials said.

More About Measles

Measles is a highly contagious respiratory disease that causes fever, red and sore eyes, runny nose, cough and a characteristic rash.

The disease can cause severe health complications, including pneumonia, encephalitis and death. Measles is transmitted by contact with an infected person through coughing or sneezing and can remain in the air and on surfaces for up to two hours.

Infected people are contagious from four days before their rash starts through four days afterwards.

Health Officials Stress the Importance of Vaccinations

The Illinois Department of Public Health and the Cook County Department of Public Health provided the following information regarding vaccinations in Thursday’s news release:

This situation continues to underscore the importance of getting vaccinated. Vaccinations are the safest, most effective way to protect individuals from measles and other potentially dangerous communicable diseases.

Individuals who are under the age of one or with certain clinical conditions cannot be vaccinated and are therefore at highest risk for measles. Residents are strongly encouraged to get vaccinated to protect themselves and the most vulnerable members of the community.