A measles outbreak in Chicago has prompted the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to send a team of experts to help manage the situation. According to the Chicago Department of Public Health, the city recorded its first measles case since 2019, with the infected person currently recovering at home. Additionally, two unrelated measles cases were identified among children at a migrant shelter in the city’s Pilsen neighborhood, with one child already recovered and the other in stable condition. Two cases were also found among adults in the shelter, both of whom are in stable condition.
The CDC team will work closely with the city and state health departments, providing clinical guidance, coordinating testing, and educating influential community leaders and clinicians on the importance of vaccination. They will also offer guidance on a vaccination campaign, targeting schools, shelters, and other congregate settings. The goal is to ensure an adequate supply of vaccines for both adults and children.
Measles is a highly contagious disease that can lead to serious symptoms and potentially life-threatening complications such as pneumonia. It is preventable through vaccination. People who are not vaccinated can become infected by breathing in contaminated air or touching surfaces that an infected person has touched. The virus can linger in the area for about an hour or two after someone