14th case of measles confirmed in Cook County, 13th linked to day care center
A 13th case of measles linked to a Palatine day care center was confirmed Tuesday by Cook County health authorities.
The case is the 14th overall county health officials have reported since last month.
County health leaders previously said they expected as many as 15 confirmed cases out of a cluster linked to the KinderCare Learning Center, 929 E. Palatine Road, in Palatine. All of the infected are infants who were too young to have received the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, authorities said.
At least five of the sickened children have since been cleared to return to the day care center, officials said.
The one case not associated with the KinderCare involved an adult from the Northwest suburbs. The case, first reported Jan. 27, involved potential exposure at three locations in the area, including a grocery store and health clinic in Palatine and Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights.
Measles is a highly contagious respiratory disease that causes fever, red and sore eyes, runny nose, cough and a characteristic rash. The disease can cause severe health complications, including fatal cases of pneumonia and encephalitis. It can be transmitted by contact with an infected person through coughing or sneezing and can remain in the air and on surfaces for up to two hours. Infected people are contagious from four days before their rash starts through four days afterward.
Health officials say anyone who is not vaccinated and experiences symptoms of a high fever and a rash should call their local health department as well as their health care provider, and not immediately go to a doctor's office, clinic or hospital.