Passenger With Measles Traveled Through Skokie: Health Officials

SKOKIE, IL — State health officials said that two passengers infected with measles who passed through O'Hare International Airport last week were unrelated. The Illinois Department of Public Health Wednesday released a detailed timeline (below) of where the second passenger traveled while infectious with the highly contagious respiratory disease.

After leaving O'Hare's international terminal on Jan. 9, the second inflected passenger spent time the following day at a Skokie office park, according to an IDPH statement. The patient then spent time at hospitals in Evanston, Skokie and Park Ridge between the nights of Jan. 10 and Jan. 12.

Wednesday's announcement follows a warning last week from public health officials that anyone who was at O'Hare Jan. 10 between 6:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. may have been exposed to measles.

"There is not a measles outbreak at O’Hare airport," said IDPH in a statement, noting the two travelers had already contracted measles before arriving at the airport.

"People who are considered to be close contacts and most at risk, including passengers on the inbound flight to Chicago O'Hare and others in the airport, are being contacted directly by local health departments," said the statement.

"Hospitals and health care facilities are working to identify all possible areas of exposure and notify susceptible patients, staff, and visitors. IDPH is working with local health departments and hospitals during this investigation and information is subject to change."

Health officials said anyone who may have become infected due to exposure to the second patient could develop symptoms as late as Feb. 1.

Note: Times of possible exposure include two-hour windows added to the time the infected individual left the location, as measles can linger in the air and on surfaces.

» MORE: O'Hare Measles Patient May Have Exposed Other Passengers

Symptoms of measles include rash, high fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes. Anyone who develops symptoms should call a health care provider before going to a medical office or emergency department. Special arrangements can be made for evaluation while also protecting other patients and medical staff from possible infection, IDPH said.
Measles can cause serious complications such as pneumonia and encephalitis (swelling of the brain) and even death.

"It is important for everyone who can be vaccinated to get vaccinated, if they aren't already," said IDPH Chief Medical Officer Dr. Jennifer Layden. "Getting vaccinated not only protects you, it protects others around you who are too young to get the vaccine or can't receive it for medical reasons. Two doses of measles vaccine are about 97 percent effective in preventing measles. "

Patch editor Shannon Antinori contributed

_{Top photo: Passengers wait in line at a security checkpoint at O'Hare Airport | Scott Olson | Getty Images News | Getty Images}