Illinois health officials have issued an alert after a case of measles was diagnosed in a visitor from outside the U.S. The infected person is the relative of a Northern Illinois University student who graduated the weekend of May 13-15. The relative attended graduation, a welcome reception for the College of Business, shopped at Walmart and Panda Express, and stayed in the Holmes Student Center hotel.
According to Illinois Department of Public Health Director (IDPH) Dr. Nirav D. Shah, measles is a highly contagious disease that can be transmitted to people with no immunity “simply by being in the same room with someone who has the disease.”
This is the first case of measles diagnosed in northern Illinois. The virus can be transmitted through sneezes and coughs from an infected person, as well as through direct contact with nose and tissue secretions. Common symptoms include face and neck rashes that spread to the rest of the body. The rash may also be accompanied by runny nose, cough, high fever and red, watery eyes. The fever typically begins on the 10th day after exposure.
People infected with measles are advised to remain home once symptoms start to appear. The IDPH says persons with measles symptoms should call their health-care provider but should not go to the doctor’s office or emergency room due to the danger of infecting others.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has stated that there have been 10 confirmed cases of measles in 4 states between Jan. 2 and April 29. These states include Texas, Tennessee, Georgia and California. The Illinois case is not yet included in that total. There were 667 cases in the U.S. in 2014. Most people who catch the disease are unvaccinated.
The infected person has recovered and is no longer contagious, according to Shah.