The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) issued a response after Chicago was struck with a third case of measles found in a child staying at the migrant shelter.
Since then, more cases of measles have been found elsewhere in the city, bringing the total to eight.
CDC experts were dispatched to Chicago after the Chicago Department of Public Health found a migrant with a communicable disease
This week, the city reported its third case of measles and the second among children at the same shelter in Pilsen.
The child was confirmed to have contracted the disease and had been hospitalized in good condition.
City officials also confirmed the first child in the Pilsen shelter had already passed the infectious stage when the disease was identified.
CNN: "Three measles cases have been linked to a migrant shelter in Chicago…A team from the CDC is now on the ground in an effort to curb the spread of the highly contagious virus." pic.twitter.com/F9mVJLLftN
— MAGA War Room (@MAGAIncWarRoom) March 13, 2024
Breitbart reported:
The first case reported came weeks before and has been confirmed to be out of the infectious stage. It was the first case of the disease reported in the city since 2019.
The first three cases were just the beginning. Several more cases have also now been found, these in adults.
Chicago officials announced two cases in adults in the same Pilsen shelter. Then, three more cases were found elsewhere, which brought the number of cases in the city to eight.
The CDC says it will work with city officials to help track the disease and set up a plan to mitigate the outbreak if more cases develop.
Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Olusimbo “Simbo” Ige insisted that since most Chicagoans are vaccinated, the population is mostly safe. However, measles is quite contagious, he warned.
“Because of how contagious measles is,” Ige said in a statement.
“I anticipate seeing more cases. Should you be exposed to someone who has measles, if you are not vaccinated you need to immediately quarantine and call a health provider. If you are not sure of your vaccination status, stay home and call your health provider as soon as possible.”
“Our IDPH is working very closely, assisting CDPH Chicago Public Health Department to address the challenges at the shelters as well as across the city to make sure that we’re providing more and more vaccinations for people who may not have already been vaccinated,” Gov. JB Pritzker said.
The CDC notes:
Measles begins with symptoms that include high fever, cough, red and watery eyes, and runny nose. White spots also appear in the mouth, and later, a rash on the skin.
The disease becomes highly contagious when small raised bumps on top of the flat red spots. The disease can be passed by touch as well as through the air from coughing and sneezing.
ABC7 Chicago reported: Cook County Health is notifying patients, visitors, and staff about possible measles exposure connected Chicago cases, which involved three Cook County Health facilities.
One of the patients was admitted to Stroger Hospital’s Emergency Department on February 27.
And a second person, who later tested positive for measles, visited Arlington Heights Health Center and Cook County Health’s Professional Building on March 7.
