Measles outbreak in Illinois underscores critical need for vaccination

By Dr. Sushama R. Chaphalkar, PhD.Mar 17 2024Reviewed by Susha Cheriyedath, M.Sc. In a recent study published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report , researchers from Illinois, the United States of America , reported the incidence of five measles cases among unvaccinated children who resided in the same building but did not socialize with each other.

The case On October 5, 2023, Patient A, a 2-year-old immigrant from Yemen, was diagnosed with an unspecified viral illness at the emergency department of Hospital A, following negative test results for influenza, coronavirus disease 2019 , and respiratory syncytial virus. Patient A had not been administered the MMR vaccine and had symptoms of fever, cough, and coryza.

Patient A's domestic contacts included two siblings who had not received the MMR vaccine and were found to be susceptible to measles through serologic testing. The siblings were Patient B, aged four years and Patient C, aged nine. The siblings contracted measles during quarantine, with varied symptoms. Although patient B required an ED visit for supportive care, neither child was hospitalized. All the residents of the building were alerted on October 17.

On October 31, Patient D's unvaccinated one-year-old sibling, named Patient E, was tested due to isolated coryza. The child attended a child-care facility on October 30 while symptomatic and confirmed measles through RT-PCR. Post-exposure prophylaxis was administered to susceptible individuals, including immune globulin for one child and an early second dose of MMR vaccine for others.

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