Potential Measles Exposure at Chicago Midway Airport and Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital
On February 22, 2019, an Illinois resident with a now confirmed diagnosis of measles was on a flight that arrived in Concourse B at Chicago Midway Airport. The passenger was unvaccinated and infectious on that day. IDPH, along with local health departments, is investigating this isolated case.
People may have been exposed to measles if they were at Midway Airport on February 22, 2019 between 9 pm and midnight. This individual also sought treatment in the emergency department at Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital on February 24, 2019. People who were in the emergency department between 11:45 am and 2:15 pm also may have been exposed, as well as individuals who were in Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital from 4:00-6:15 pm on February 24, 2019 and from 10:00 am - 1:00 pm on February 25, 2019. These are the only known public locations in Illinois where exposures occurred.
Most people are vaccinated routinely in childhood and are not at high risk. Of most concern are people who have not been vaccinated. Individuals who think they have been exposed should check with their health care provider about protection through prior vaccination or the need for vaccination.
If infected, you could develop symptoms as late as March 20, 2019. Symptoms of measles include rash, high fever, cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes. If you develop symptoms of measles, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) recommends you call or email a health care provider BEFORE going to a medical office or emergency department. Special arrangements can be made for your evaluation while also protecting other patients and medical staff from possible infection. Local health departments are working to notify Illinois residents who were identified as being potentially exposed on the affected person’s flights.
“Measles is highly contagious. However, two doses of measles vaccine are about 97 percent effective in preventing measles,” reminds IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike. “We urge everyone to make sure they and their family members are up-to-date on measles/mumps/rubella (MMR) vaccine and all other age-appropriate immunizations, especially if you are traveling to other countries where measles is regularly found. Getting vaccinated not only protects you, it protects others around you who are too young to get the vaccine or cannot receive it for medical reasons.”
Measles can cause serious complications such as pneumonia and encephalitis (swelling of the brain). Measles is easily spread through the air when someone coughs or sneezes. People can also get sick when they come in contact with mucus or saliva from an infected person.
This most recent case is not related to the four cases reported in Champaign County earlier this month. This unvaccinated individual traveled overseas to countries where measles is regularly found.
- DuPage Bard - Thursday, Feb 28, 19 @ 4:31 pm:
On a flight? So everyone on that flight was exposed. Where did they all go?
- RNUG - Thursday, Feb 28, 19 @ 4:44 pm:
== This unvaccinated individual traveled overseas … ==
Thought there was a whole bunch of recommended vaccinations for traveling out of the country. Did this infected person refuse to be vaccinated? Or was he one of the few the vaccination wasn’t effective on?
- amalia - Thursday, Feb 28, 19 @ 5:43 pm:
science people. science. vaccinate.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Feb 28, 19 @ 8:06 pm:
Open borders are breeding grounds for the spread of contagious diseases. The poor unfortunates oftentimes have no vaccinations.
- JoanP - Thursday, Feb 28, 19 @ 8:24 pm:
=Thought there was a whole bunch of recommended vaccinations for traveling out of the country. =
Depends where you’re going. And, in any case, these are recommendations, not requirements (at least by the U.S. - some destination countries may require them).
- lakeside - Thursday, Feb 28, 19 @ 8:53 pm:
@Anon 8:06
Well, the infected person was from Illinois, but I support your plan to seal the border around Washington State.
- FormerParatrooper - Thursday, Feb 28, 19 @ 9:18 pm:
As much as I fly, its a wonder I don’t get sick from these ignorant people. Add to that i work in hospital and clinics. And yes, i get vaccinated.
- Da Big Bad Wolf - Thursday, Feb 28, 19 @ 9:44 pm:
==Open borders are breeding grounds for the spread of contagious diseases.==
Is that so? Schengen Agreement countries have measles?
- Anonymous - Friday, Mar 1, 19 @ 8:19 am:
The anti science crowd is crazy.
- CEA - Friday, Mar 1, 19 @ 8:51 am:
@Big Bad Wolf: Unfortunately, Europe’s vax rate isn’t as confidence-inspiring as one might think.
http://www.historyofvaccines.org/content/blog/measles-europe-2018-to-date
- theCardinal - Friday, Mar 1, 19 @ 9:13 am:
Science is tricky for some but the effects are real.
http://www.jennymccarthybodycount.com
- TheInvisibleMan - Friday, Mar 1, 19 @ 9:25 am:
I am of the opinion that school districts should release the number of unvaccinated kids in their districts, even before an outbreak happens.
It gives people the information they need about what type of community they are moving into, or currently living in.
- Terry Salad - Friday, Mar 1, 19 @ 9:32 am:
Many in the anti-vaccination view measles as just a harmless childhood disease that we all get (and then you are immune for life). A part of growing up, if you will. This is amazingly bad thinking. Measles is high contagious and can cause serious complications and death. I worry that it will take a rise in deaths to get people’s attention on the importance of vaccination.