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Northwest suburban measles case confirmed

A Northwest suburban resident's recently confirmed case of measles may have created potential exposure to others at three locations in Arlington Heights and Palatine, public health officials reported Tuesday.

Among the sites of potential exposure was the Northwest Community Hospital emergency room in Arlington Heights from 7 p.m. Jan. 14 to 12:30 a.m. Jan. 15, and from 4 to 10:30 p.m. Jan. 17.

Others potentially affected were customers at the Supermercado Guzman, 1611 N. Baldwin Road in Palatine, between 5:30 and 8 p.m. on both Jan. 12 and 13, and patients and visitors at the Vista Clinic, 1585 N. Rand Road in Palatine, between 12:30 and 4 p.m. Jan. 16.

The Cook County Department of Public Health, with assistance from the Illinois Department of Public Health, is informing all potential contacts of their possible exposure, officials said.

Alice Brown, corporate communications director for Northwest Community Healthcare, said the hospital is reaching out to all patients who were in the emergency room during the potential exposure times by phone and by mail.

Anyone possibly exposed and experiencing symptoms should call the Cook County Department of Public Health at (847) 818-4020 as well as their healthcare provider. Symptoms include a fever of 101 degrees or higher, a cough, a runny nose and red eyes with or without rash.

People who believe they've been infected should not go to their doctor's office or an emergency room, as they could infect others there.

Measles is a highly contagious and respiratory disease that can cause severe health complications such as pneumonia, encephalitis and even death. It is transmitted by contact with infected persons through coughing or sneezing, and can remain in the air and on surfaces for up to two hours.

Brigette Bucholz, manager of infection prevention and control at Northwest Community Hospital, said symptoms of measles are very nonspecific until the characteristic rash develops. Two different tests are required for confirmation, both of which the hospital took samples for and sent them to be processed by the appropriate agencies.

The confirmed suburban case occurred in a person who became ill in mid-January.

“This case in Illinois is a reminder of the importance of immunizations,” said Nirav Shah, director of the Illinois Department of Public Health. “With only 10 cases reported in Illinois over the past five years, many parents may not have experienced the severe illness that can be caused by measles. Immunizations are vital to protect not only each child, but the community as a whole.”

Vaccination is considered highly effective at preventing measles infection and is required for all Illinois schoolchildren.

Bucholz added, however, that the infected person may have been immunized. The vaccinations don't take hold for life in everyone, she said.

At present, there is no identified link between this local measles case and the multistate outbreak of measles associated with Disneyland.

For more information about measles, visit idph.state.il.us/public/hb/hbmeasles.htm.

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