More measles cases are expected after two children at a Chicago-area day care center tested positive for measles and three more have suspected cases.
A county health official in Palatine, Illinois,
told the Chicago Tribune, “There will be more cases. … We shouldn’t be surprised about that. The cat is out of the bag."
The five suspected and confirmed cases came from the KinderCare Learning Center in Palatine. All of the children affected are babies under the age of 1; children that age cannot have the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine.
Dr. Terry Mason, chief operating officer of the Cook County Department of Public Health, told the Tribune that none of the babies' parents had decided not to vaccinate.
These five measles cases come just a week after county officials confirmed a measles case in an adult; the officials would not comment on whether there was any connection between that case and the day care center, the Tribune said. It was also unclear whether the outbreak was associated with the California Disneyland cases.
A spokesperson for KinderCare said that anyone who didn’t have an updated vaccination record would not be allowed at the center until Feb. 24, the Tribune reported.
ABC News said health officials are monitoring seven to 10 children who are too young for the vaccine and may have been exposed at the center.
The health department’s Dr. Rachel Rubin told ABC there have been only 10 measles cases in the previous five years.
“While these measles cases seem to be focused on the northwest suburban Cook County region, any resident who is unvaccinated and experiences symptoms of a high fever and a rash should call their local health department as well as their healthcare provider,” health officials said in a statement. “These individuals should notify their doctor or emergency department before seeking care so that staff are able to take appropriate precautions to prevent others from being infected.”
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