The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) Saturday reported a second local case of measles, confirmed among members of the University of Illinois community.
Possible exposure locations are listed below:
POSSIBLE EXPOSURE LOCATION January 18, 2019 2:00 – 5:30 PM McKinley Health Center at the University of Illinois
January 28, 2019
9:30 AM – 4:15 PM University of Illinois School of Social Work
January 29, 2019
3:00 – 6:00 PM University of Illinois School of Social Work
January 31, 2019
7:30 – 9:30 PM Carle Hospital Emergency Department
January 27 – 31, 2019 Maywood Apartment Building at 51 East John Street, Champaign
Most people are vaccinated and therefore “not at high risk,” the CUPHD said.
Those most at risk include:
- Babies too young to receive vaccines
- Unvaccinated children and adults
- Pregnant women
- The elderly
- Individuals with weakened immune systems, such as those with asthma, chronic illness, or undergoing treatment for cancer
- Individuals who are allergic to vaccine components
Measles is a contagious ailment that can, in severe cases, result in serious illness or death. According to CUPHD, “Measles spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It is so contagious that if one person has it, 9 out of 10 people around him or her will also become infected if they are not protected. Your child can get measles just by being in a room where a person with measles has been, even up to two hours after that person has left. An infected person can spread measles to others even before knowing he/she has the disease — from four days before developing the measles rash through four days afterward.”
Symptoms of measles include rash, high fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes. If individuals develop symptoms of measles, CUPHD recommends they call their health care provider before going to a medical office or emergency department. Special arrangements can be made for evaluation while also protecting other patients and medical staff from possible infection.
Read about the original measles case from January here.
Selfish people who are not to vaccinating against this purely out of choice are putting those of us who can’t vaccinate at risk, including young babies. If an infant or immune compromised person dies from this preventable disease, how will you feel knowing you contributed to their death by listening to bogus claims from the internet.