INVESTIGATION UNDERWAY AFTER MEASLES CASES CONFIRMED IN SUBURBS
Featured on ABC 7 Chicago
An investigation is underway in the northwest suburbs after five children under the age of 1 were confirmed to have the measles. All five children were cared for at the Palatine KinderCare.
Three new cases of measles were confirmed Friday by the Illinois Department of Public Health, bringing the total to five. All the cases were in infants, who were all too young to be immunized.
Now, because of the new cases, KinderCare nationwide is now requiring all staff and adults with access to the infant areas be vaccinated for measles.
“We called our doctor,” says Greg Piecuch, whose child attends KinderCare. “Our pediatrician said, she’s up to date. It’s fine. Shouldn’t be concerned.”
But the recent measles outbreak has many that care for little children on alert.
Children and staff at El Valor’s three daycare centers in Chicago are required to have appropriate immunization. Regardless of their immunization status, all parents picking up kids on Friday were informed about the outbreak.
“We set up a flyer, a communication piece, with the parents so we can alert them, help them understand, be aware of-that measles is occurring around Illinois,” says Marisela Moreno, El Valor Health Manager.
It’s not just children that need to worry.
An adult also has a confirmed case of the measles in Palatine, and some local doctors are getting flooded with calls from concerned adults wondering what they should do to protect themselves.
The answer lies in the year you were born.
“Between 1957 and 1967 the initial vaccination program between 1963 and 1967 used a virus that was not as effective,” says Dr. David Zich of Northwestern Medicine, “so unfortunately if you were born between that period and only had that vaccination series you need another vaccine, the new type”
Health officials are investigating how the cases, involving the infants and the adult in Palatine, are connected and determining if there are other people who should be informed.
MORE INFORMATION ON MEASLES IN ILLINOIS:
COMPARE: Percentage of children vaccinated in Kindergarten for measles, mumps and rubella
Illinois: 94.7 percent
Indiana: 92.9 percent
Wisconsin: 92.6 percent
National average: 94.7 percent
(according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Read online: http://abc7chicago.com/news/investigation-into-illinois-measles-cases-underway/508185/
READ: CDC report on 1989-1990 measles outbreak in Chicago
READ: Measles cases in Illinois since 2005
SEARCH: Immunization Status of Illinois students, by school (PDF)