Man with measles visited Mt. Prospect store
An alert has been issued about a measles exposure after a Cook County resident carrying the illness visited a Mount Prospect grocery store, the Cook County Department of Public Health announced.
People who went to the Jewel-Osco on the 300 block of Euclid Avenue between 12 p.m. and 4 p.m. on July 14, or Panera Bread on the 400 block of West Division Street in Chicago between 5 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. on July 13 could have been exposed to the illness, public health officials said in a news release Monday.
Health officials said two hours have been added to the time after the exposed person left those locations. The measles virus can linger in the air and on surfaces for two hours after an infected person leaves.
Public health officials are working with Panera Bread and Jewel-Osco to contact employees who may have been exposed.
People exposed or experiencing symptoms of measles should contact a health care provider, officials said. Symptoms of measles include a rash, high fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes.
People who develop those symptoms should contact their health care provider before going to the medical office or emergency department so special arrangements can be made to protect other patients and medical technicians. People are also urged to contact their local health department.
People infected with the virus could develop symptoms up to 21 days after exposure.
Measles can cause serious complications, such as pneumonia and encephalitis, and easily spreads through the air when someone coughs or sneezes.