Lake County Residents Could Have Been Exposed to Measles

Although there have been no confirmed cases of measles in Lake County, the Lake County Department of Health is alerting residents that someone who has tested positive for measles could have exposed residents to the disease.

“People who visited or worked at the Menards store, 2700 W. Lake Cook Road in Long Grove, on Sunday, February 15, between 7:55 a.m. and 3:20 p.m., may have been exposed,” The Lake County Department of Health said in a written release. “An individual who has tested positive for measles was at the store at that date and time and could have been contagious.

The release goes on to state that the Menards store is cooperating closely with the Health Department and the Illinois Department of Public Health.

“The measles vaccine is safe, effective and the best protection against this disease,” said Tony Beltran, the Health Department’s Executive Director in a written release. “Before the U.S. measles vaccination program started in 1963, about 3 to 4 million people in the U.S. got measles each year, 400 to 500 of them died and 48,000 were hospitalized.”

Today, most people in Illinois have been vaccinated for measles. Despite this, the Health Department has decided to offer the vaccine. Several free measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccination clinics will be offered for customers and employees of the store who feel they may have been exposed. The dates and times are to be determined.

In the meantime, the Lake County Department of Health warns residents that the symptoms of measles are as follows:

* A fever that can get very high
* Cough, runny nose and red eyes
* A rash of tiny, red spots that starts at the head and spreads to the rest of the body

For more information, visit the Health Department’s Web site or call: (847) 377-8130.