The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is now monitoring a measles outbreak in Southern Illinois, where four cases have been confirmed locally.
Two new cases were reported over the weekend, adding to two earlier cases identified in the Marion area in April. Additionally, two unrelated cases were previously confirmed in Cook County. So far this year, no children in Illinois have contracted measles, and none of the adult patients has required hospitalization.
The overall risk of measles transmission to the general public in Illinois remains low. Vaccination continues to be the most effective method of preventing measles.
One of the newly confirmed cases is in the Franklin-Williamson Bi-County area. With this case, the region now meets the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) definition of an outbreakâthree or more epidemiologically linked cases. Health officials have identified social connections among the three linked individuals.
Another Southern Illinois case may have involved travel to locations in Missouri, including the St. Louis Aquarium.
Despite these developments, public health officials emphasize that the risk to the general public remains low. IDPH strongly encourages Illinois residents to ensure they and their family members are current on the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine, along with all other recommended immunizations.
For the latest updates on potential exposure sites, visit the IDPH website under Measles Exposure Locations.
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