Health Department monitoring measles situation

After Illinois remained measles-free for three years, there have been six confirmed cases in the past six months, with three cases in Chicago confirmed in the past two months. One of these cases was an Indiana resident who received treatment at a Chicago hospital.

To date, no cases of measles have been reported in Oak Park.

The recent cases underscore the need to increase vaccination in school-age populations. There has been a decline in measles vaccine coverage in school-age children nationally, and in Illinois, the rate has dropped below the 95% herd-immunity level needed for protection against measles.

Local efforts to monitor the situation include keeping the lines of communications open with local health care providers and schools, as well as with both county and state health officials.

Any parent who suspects a child may be exhibiting measles symptoms is urged to contact their doctor, school and the Oak Park Health Department (708.358.5480). Pre-rash symptoms include a high fever, cough, runny nose and redness in the eyes.

Be sure to call ahead before going to a health provider’s office or emergency room for measles symptoms, officials say, so that steps to provide isolation can be made to protect others

Likelihood of transmission here low

The likelihood of transmission is low here, according to Oak Park Health Department officials, because of a 98-percent vaccination rate among school-aged children who would be the most likely sources of an outbreak.

Some children in Oak Park day care settings likely are not vaccinated, however, but only because they are too young, officials say. Children under the age of one are not vaccinated because the antibodies they received from their mother at birth help provide protection and also make vaccination ineffective.

Vaccination important

The first dose of the combined measles, mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine typically is given between the ages of 12 and 15 months, followed by the second dose at ages 4 to 6. Based on the school-age vaccination rate, officials say it appears the vast majority of Oak Parents are following these recommendations, which are essential to keeping the highly contagious disease at bay.

Although most vaccinated children are immune, officials caution that even these children have a very small risk of infection. Vaccination within 72 hours of exposure to a measles case also can reduce the chance of becoming infected.

The Health Department is encouraging all parents to make sure their children are vaccinated. In some situations, the second dose can be given earlier as long as it has been at least four weeks since the first dose. More than 97 percent of children with two doses of the vaccine are immune, they say.

About measles

Measles – or Rubeola – is one of the most highly contagious of all infectious diseases. An airborne virus transmitted by contact with an infected person through coughing or sneezing, it can remain in the air and on surfaces for up to two hours.

Measles causes high fever, malaise, red and sore eyes, runny nose, cough and a characteristic rash that typically starts at the hairline and face, and then rapidly spreads down the body. The rash usually begins about 14 days after exposure, but can be anywhere between seven and 21 days.

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

Officials point out that Rubeloa is not the same as Rubella, which typically is referred to as the German measles. And since a rash and fever can be caused by other ailments, they stress the importance of working with a health care provider to be sure of a proper diagnosis.

For more information

Extensive information on the measles is available online at www.cdc.gov, the Centers for Disease Control website. Oak Park residents also can contact the Oak Park Department of Public Health at 708.358.5480 or email health@oak-park.us.