City Warns Of Possible Measles Exposure At Restaurant In Loop

CHICAGO, IL — A person with a laboratory-confirmed measles infection may have exposed others at a restaurant in the Loop, public health officials said. The case was reported to the Chicago Public Health Department on Friday, officials said. The department has begun contacting Chicago residents who were at Honeygrow at 70 East Lake Street last Tuesday from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and may have been exposed.

Health officials said there is "no ongoing risk" at Honeygrow and that the restaurant is cooperating with the investigation.

Most people are vaccinated routinely in childhood and are not at high risk. People who have not been vaccinated, pregnant women and immunocompromised people are of most concern, city officials said. Measles is highly contagious virus and spreads through the air through coughing and sneezing.

Measles symptoms include a rash, high fever, cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes. If you develop symptoms of measles, the CDPH recommends you call a health care provider before going to a medical office or emergency department, so that other patients and medical staff are protected from possible infection.

"This is an important reminder to make sure that individuals and their family members are up-to-date on measles/mumps/rubella (MMR) vaccine and all other age-appropriate immunizations. When you have that protection, you are also helping to protect others who can't get vaccinated, such as infants under six months of age or those with weakened immune systems," said CDPH Commissioner, Julie Morita, M.D.

Honeygrow did not reply to Patch's request for comment by deadline, however the restaurant's CEO provided the following statement to ABC 7: "Honeygrow handles any health risk with extreme precaution and has taken proactive measures to ensure the safety of our guests and team. Fortunately and as mentioned by the Chicago Department of Public Health, the measles is not a food borne illness. That said, we are treating the situation with absolute severity, including dispatching our internal and third-party partners to ensure the safety and sterility of our Lake Street location."

Restaurant customers who think they may have been exposed can call the Chicago Department of Public Health Immunization program at 312-746-6344 during weekday work hours. During after hours and weekends, call 311 and ask for the communicable disease physician on call, city officials said.

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