The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) has identified two confirmed cases of measles in Cook County. If you haven’t already, now is the time to make sure you, your loved ones, and your community is protected against measles.
About Measles
Measles is a highly contagious respiratory disease that spreads easily through the air. It is so contagious that if one person has it, 90% of the people close to them who are not immune will also become infected with the measles virus. Complications from measles can lead to pneumonia, seizures, hearing loss, life-long brain damage and death.
The virus can linger in a room for up to two hours and can be especially dangerous for babies, young children, pregnant women, and people with compromised immune systems.
The best defense against measles is vaccination; two doses of MMR vaccine are 97% effective against measles and generally provide lifelong immunity. If you have children who have not yet been vaccinated, please contact your healthcare provider to get them vaccinated as soon as possible (the first dose should be given between 12-15 months of age, the second between the ages of 4-6 years old).
Find out more about measles on the CDPH website.
How to Check your Vaccination Status
The CDC recommends two doses of the MMR vaccine for lifelong protection. If you’re not sure whether you’ve had one or both doses of the vaccine, you can check your vaccine history using the Illinois Department of Public Health Vax Verify portal.
If you were vaccinated before 1968, check with your healthcare provider about a revaccination. A blood test can confirm if you still have immunity. If you got just one dose, have a weakened immune system, or have been exposed to an outbreak, talk to your healthcare provider about immunization.
If you or your children are traveling out of the country, talk to your healthcare provider about whether an additional dose of MMR vaccine is recommended before travel. People who are frequently around international travelers (e.g. airport workers and taxi or rideshare drivers) should also double check their vaccination status, as they have a heightened risk of exposure.
How to Get Vaccinated
If you have not yet been vaccinated against measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR), please speak with your healthcare provider or call 833-308-1988 to make an appointment to get the MMR vaccine at a Cook County Health or CDPH community health center.
CDPH offers free MMR vaccinations for anyone who needs them, regardless of insurance status, at CDPH Immunization Clinics.
The closest clinic to the 40th Ward is located at 854 W. Wilson, 2nd floor. They are open on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 8am-3pm, and on Tuesday and Thursday from 9am–4pm. Walk-ins are welcome, but registration is highly encouraged. You can register at getvaxchi.chicago.gov or by calling the clinic at 312-742-3227.
What to do if You Are Exposed or Develop Symptoms
If you think you may have been exposed and you aren’t sure whether you’ve been vaccinated, contact your healthcare provider.
Measles symptoms appear up to 21 days following exposure, and include rash, high fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes. The rash usually begins on the face and spreads to the trunk. A person is generally contagious the four days before and four days after the onset of a rash.
If you develop symptoms, notify your healthcare provider before going to the emergency room or another medical office.
Combat Misinformation
Vitamin A is not a substitute for vaccination, and supplements do not prevent measles infection. Vitamin A can help reduce the severity of measles symptoms—particularly in malnourished children or those with vitamin A deficiency—but only after infection has occurred.
According to the CDC, while Vitamin A may be used as part of supportive care for measles in some patients under medical supervision, relying on vitamin A instead of vaccination puts individuals and communities at risk of serious infections and disease spread.
To learn more about measles, visit the CDPH website or the Cook County Department of Public Health website or learn more on the CDC website.