On April 14, the DuPage County Health Department (DCHD) reported that a DuPage County resident tested positive for measles on April 13, with all related exposures happening in Chicago between April 4 and 10. No other cases of the disease have been identified in the county since 2009. According to the DCHD, the resident is currently receiving outpatient care while the department works “diligently with public health partners to identify and notify individuals who may have been exposed to the virus.”
Measles is an extremely rare, preventable viral infection spread by airborne droplets, according to Mayo Clinic. There are fewer than 1,000 cases in the U.S. each year.
Beth Walsh, director of Student Health Services (SHS), said measles is highly contagious, with 90 percent of susceptible individuals contracting the virus if exposed. She also confirmed the widespread medical consensus that the disease is preventable.
“If you are vaccinated for measles, you are likely protected,” Walsh said. “Individuals who know they are not vaccinated against measles should consider getting vaccinated, if possible. Even one dose confers 93% protection against measles.”
The measles, mumps and rubella vaccine (MMR) is a series of two vaccines, typically given at one year of age and around five years of age at school entry. MMR vaccination is one of the vaccine series required by law to attend higher education in Illinois, so most students have completed this vaccination series, according to Walsh, unless they filed for an exemption.
Any Wheaton College students or local residents who are concerned that they have been exposed can find the list of exposure locations on the Chicago Department of Public Health’s website.
Walsh said anyone exposed to measles and contacted by DCHD should monitor themselves for 21 days for the primary symptoms: fever, cough, runny nose, sore throat, watery eyes and a characteristic rash that starts on the face and spreads to the rest of the body. Those who are infected with the virus are contagious for four days before their rash develops and four days after it appears. An exposed person watching for symptoms should quarantine and contact SHS as soon as they see a rash. Like other viruses, measles has no treatment beyond supporting your body as it fights the virus. Walsh said comfort measures, such as increasing fluids, resting and taking fever-reducing medications can help with symptoms that will last approximately 7-10 days. Monitoring for complications, such as pneumonia, is important.
MMR vaccines are available at SHS. Because most students are already vaccinated and no exposure locations have been identified in DuPage County, Walsh said “the average Wheaton College student or Wheaton resident does not need to be overly concerned at this time.”
