Health officials are urging Illinois residents to be vaccinated against measles amid an outbreak in the eastern portion of the state.
According to a press release from IDPH, that outbreak is occurring in Douglas County, located just to the south of Champaign and Vermillion counties.
At least four cases of measles have been reported in the county, and since all four are connected via a common exposure source, it is being classified as an outbreak in accordance with IDPH rules.
Now, the department is urging residents to make sure their MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccines are up-to-date, saying two doses of the vaccine are 97% effective at preventing infection.
“Illinois is fortunate to have high vaccination rates overall that protect most Illinois residents from measles,” said IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra in a statement. “However, there are still areas across the state with lower vaccination rates where people are at high risk. With almost 3,000 cases in the US so far this year, IDPH has been preparing and works closely with local public health and health care partners on strategies to reduce spread and minimize outbreaks.”
According to the CDC, measles can be spread through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes, or through direct contact with nose or throat secretions.
Measles was classified as “eliminated” in the United States in 2000, but amid declines in immunizations nationwide, the virus has experienced a resurgence in recent years, with thousands of cases reported this year alone.
So far this year nine cases of measles have been reported in the state of Illinois, according to IDPH data.
Symptoms of measles include a fever of 101 degrees or higher, cough, runny nose, and red eyes. A rash typically starts on the head in measles cases and moves down the body, and can last for three days or more.
More information can be found on the IDPH website.
from NBC Chicago https://ift.tt/gbHNDOx
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