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GENEVA – People may have been exposed to measles if they were at Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital in Geneva on February 24th or 25th.
An Illinois resident diagnosed with measles has sought treatment at the hospital on February 24, according to a press release from the Illinois Department of Public Health. Between 9:00 pm and midnight on February 22, the person was in a flight that arrived in the B hall of Chicago Midway Airport.
The passenger was unvaccinated and contagious that day, the statement said. On February 24, the person sought treatment in the emergency department at Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital. People who were in the hospital's emergency department between 11:45 am and 2:15 pm According to the press release, people were also exposed to the hospital from 4 pm to 3:15 pm. 10h to 13h 25 February.
These are the only known public places in Illinois where exhibitions have taken place, the statement said. Northwestern Medicine officials could not say whether the infected person was living or working in the area.
Most people are routinely immunized as children and are not at high risk of contracting measles.
"The vast majority of people are vaccinated in the United States, so they would certainly be immune and would not have to worry about anything," said Dr. Steven Lewis, Medical Director of Infection Control and Disease Control. Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital of Geneva. "People at risk are those who have not been vaccinated because of a medical contraindication or a personal choice or who are too young, under the age of 12 months."
A contraindication is a specific situation in which a drug, procedure or surgery should not be used as it can be harmful to the person. Adults born before 1957 "probably have natural immunity to measles," Lewis said.
"The measles vaccination protocol now includes two doses," said Lewis. "So, if you have not received two doses, you must either get tested to be immunized, or update your immunity.Everyone must make sure that he is immune to the measles because it appears from time to time and can be a serious illness. "
Those who had already contracted measles should not be affected, he said.
"There are occasional cases of measles in someone who has had measles before," said Lewis. "But if that happens, it's extremely rare, the simple true statement is that once you've had measles, your natural immunity will protect you for life."
Between January 1 and February 21, 159 individual cases of measles were confirmed in 10 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. States that have reported cases to the CDC are Illinois, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Kentucky, New York, Oregon, Texas, and Washington.
Symptoms of measles include rash, high fever, cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes. If you develop measles symptoms, the Illinois Department of Public Health recommends that you call or email an health care provider before you go to a practice. doctor or emergency service.
"If they think they're catching measles, you do not want them to arrive in a place where they will expose other people," Lewis said. "They should call their health care provider or the health department."
Measles can lead to serious complications such as pneumonia and encephalitis (swelling of the brain). According to health officials, measles is easily transmitted in the air when someone coughs or sneezes. People can also get sick when they come in contact with mucus or saliva from an infected person.
Lewis said he would advise parents to have their children vaccinated against measles, noting that the vaccine is safe.
"Everyone should receive their first dose between 12 and 15 months and their second dose between 4 and 6 years," he said. "Much of the public concern about vaccine safety in general, and this one in particular, is really not based on medical facts."
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