Cluster of Measles Cases Linked to Cook County Daycare

Public health officials are investigating a cluster of measles cases reported among five children who attended a KinderCare Learning Center at 929 E. Palatine Road in Palatine, according to a Cook County Department of Public Health press release.

All of the children are under the age of 1 years old. Four of the children are from suburban Cook County while one is from the city of Chicago, according to the news release.

Public health officials said lab tests confirmed the measles diagnosis for two of the children and test results for the other three children is pending. The three with pending results have been diagnosed “based on clinical and epidemiological criteria,” according to the news release.

Public health officials said the source of the infection is not known at this time and it is not clear if these cases are linked to the previously confirmed case in suburban Cook County. That case involved a suburban Chicago resident whotested positive for the measles in January and may have had contact with others at Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights and other Palatine locations, according to recent media reports.

It is also unclear if the local cases are linked to the Disneyland outbreak in California and has lead to the spread of measles across the United States. From Jan. 1 through 30, 102 people from 14 states were reported to have measles, according to the Center for Disease Control.

In Cook County, public health officials are taking measures to limit the spread of the disease.

Students, staff and faculty at the Palatine KinderCare have been notified about the measles cases.

“Anyone who has not received the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine has been instructed to remain at home and away from unvaccinated individuals for the next 21 days,” public health officials said in Thursday’s news release.

Health officials said the measles cases seem to be concentrated in the northwest suburban Cook County region but urge any resident who is unvaccinated and experiences symptoms of a high fever and a rash to call their local health department as well as their healthcare provider.

“These individuals should notify their doctor or emergency department before seeking care so that staff are able to take appropriate precautions to prevent others from being infected,” according to the news release.

More About Measles

Measles is a highly contagious respiratory disease that causes fever, red and sore eyes, runny nose, cough and a characteristic rash.

The disease can cause severe health complications, including pneumonia, encephalitis and death. Measles is transmitted by contact with an infected person through coughing or sneezing and can remain in the air and on surfaces for up to two hours.

Infected people are contagious from four days before their rash starts through four days afterwards.

Health Officials Stress the Importance of Vaccinations

The Illinois Department of Public Health and the Cook County Department of Public Health provided the following information regarding vaccinations in Thursday’s news release:

This situation continues to underscore the importance of getting vaccinated. Vaccinations are the safest, most effective way to protect individuals from measles and other potentially dangerous communicable diseases.

Individuals who are under the age of one or with certain clinical conditions cannot be vaccinated and are therefore at highest risk for measles. Residents are strongly encouraged to get vaccinated to protect themselves and the most vulnerable members of the community.