Cook County Health Officials Confirm 3rd Suburban Measles Case, Exposure Tied To Crestwood Grocery Store

BRIDGEVIEW, IL – A third Cook County case of measles has been confirmed, this time at a supermarket in Crestwood. The case has been tied to an adult whose vaccination status is unknown, Cook County health officials said.

Cook County Department of Public Health believe the case was acquired from exposure to the last reported case of an unvaccinated 4-year-old suburban Cook resident passing through O’Hare International Airport who is believed to acquired measles during international travel.

Public health officials are now working to identify and notify people who may have been exposed to this new case. The point of public exposure took place at Aldi Grocery Store, 4820 Cal-Sag Road in Crestwood. The exposure is believed to have occurred between the hours of 5 to 7 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 24.

Measles is a highly contagious respiratory disease that spreads easily through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs or sneezes. Measles is so contagious that if one person has it, 90 percent of the people close to that person who are not immune or are unvaccinated will also become infected with the measles virus.

For People Who May Have Been Exposed:

• People who may have been exposed should check with their health care provider if they are unsure about prior vaccination. The health care provider will determine the need for testing if symptoms develop.
• If an exposed person develops symptoms, they should call a healthcare provider before going to a medical office or emergency department for evaluation to ensure that special arrangement can be made to prevent patients and medical staff from possible exposure.
• People that are unvaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) and are exposed should talk with their doctor about getting MMR vaccine. It is not harmful to get MMR vaccine after being exposed to measles, mumps or rubella and doing so may prevent measles.
• Most people are vaccinated against measles routinely in childhood and are not at high risk. The best defense against measles is vaccination. Two doses of MMR vaccine are 97 percent effective against measles and generally provide lifelong immunity. The first dose should be given between 12-15 months of age; the second between the ages of 4-6 years old.