Largest IL Measles Outbreak Since 1990 Contained: Health Officials

ACROSS ILLINOIS — The largest measles outbreak to hit the state of Illinois since 1990 has been contained, health officials announced this past week.

No new cases of measles have been reported in 42 days, health officials said Monday, which amounts to two full incubation periods. During the outbreak, 67 measles cases were reported across the state, with several being linked back to a Chicago migrant shelter.

The first case was reported on March 7.

Cases eventually extended beyond Chicago to suburban Cook County and Will County, with both counties reporting two cases; and Lake and DuPage counties, with each county reporting one case. In the suburban counties, the disease was "rapidly contained," health officials said.

“I applaud all of the public health, health care, emergency management and social service staffers who worked so diligently to cooperate across jurisdictional lines to contain this measles outbreak,” said Sameer Vohra, director for the Illinois Department of Public Health. “Public health is a team sport founded on partnership, and this was no better exemplified than during this recent outbreak. Vaccination remains our most effective tool to prevent future outbreaks. Please reach out to your primary care provider this summer to ensure that you are up to date on the MMR vaccine and all other routine immunizations.”

During the outbreak, state public health officials worked with the Illinois Department of Human Services and Illinois Emergency Management Agency to provide resources to support local public health departments, including the Chicago Department of Public Health as well as well as health departments in counties where the virus was reported.

Among the services provided was a DHS-run quarantine hotel-shelter in Chicago that allowed for the most vulnerable new arrivals, including pregnant and immunocompromised people and young children, to quarantine safely while also helping decompress the shelter with the largest outbreak, according to a news release from the IDPH.

IDPH also expanded its laboratory capacity to expedite measles testing and provided results back faster than a commercial lab, according to public health officials.

State and local partners provided educational and awareness sessions with clinicians, community leaders and school personnel which led to increased vaccinations, testing and rapid reporting of cases. The IDPH vaccine team also focused on the vaccine supply needed in the city of Chicago and expedited identification of vaccination records for new arrivals attending schools. A school vaccine dashboard was developed to help local jurisdictions guide decisions on need for enhanced vaccinations in schools, according to the news release.

Most residents of Chicago and Illinois are vaccinated for measles routinely in childhood and therefore were not at risk during the outbreak. According to the CDC, one dose of measles/mumps/rubella (MMR) vaccine is 93 percent effective against measles and two doses are 97 percent effective in protection from measles.

The CDC reports that as of the end of May, there were a total of 146 measles cases reported in 21 jurisdictions around the U.S. suggesting an ongoing need for continued vigilance and vaccination against measles, especially for unvaccinated children and adults.

IDPH stresses the importance of ensuring everyone in your family is up to date on their immunizations. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccination rates in the United States have dropped, increasing the likelihood of more cases of vaccine-preventable diseases.

Individuals can protect themselves and their communities by doing their part and ensuring their families are up to date on all recommended vaccines.

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