A Measles Outbreak Hits Chicago: CDC Team Arrives to Assist
In a concerning development, the Chicago Department of Public Health has reported the first measles case in the city since 2019. A total of 5 cases have been confirmed, affecting both children and adults. As a response, a team of experts from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is set to arrive in Chicago on Tuesday to provide assistance to local public health officials in managing the outbreak.
The CDC team will collaborate closely with the city and state health departments to identify individuals at risk, offer clinical guidance, coordinate testing, educate community leaders, and ensure an ample supply of vaccines. Measles is a highly contagious disease that can lead to severe symptoms, but it is entirely preventable through vaccination.
Despite efforts to eliminate measles in the US in 2000, cases have been on the rise nationwide, with 45 reported cases in 17 jurisdictions as of March 7. Chicago health officials have joined forces with public health managers to conduct thorough assessments of residents, administer vaccines to over 900 individuals, quarantine those who have not been vaccinated, and provide MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) shots to newly arrived migrants.
According to the CDC, children should receive two doses of the MMR vaccine, typically at 12 to 15 months of age and again at 4 to 6 years of age. However, the vaccination rate in the US has fallen below the federal target of 95%, with only 92% of children receiving the MMR vaccine by age 2. Additionally, the rate of vaccine exemptions for children has reached a record high in the country.
As the measles outbreak in Chicago serves as a stark reminder of the importance of vaccination, healthcare authorities continue to urge the public to ensure their immunizations are up to date to prevent the spread of preventable diseases.
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