A team from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has arrived in Chicago to assist with a recent measles outbreak that has affected five individuals in the city. This outbreak includes two cases among children at a migrant shelter in the Pilsen neighborhood.
The CDC team will be working closely with local health departments to identify at-risk individuals and provide guidance, testing, and vaccines. The Chicago Department of Public Health is urging all residents, especially newcomers to the city, to get vaccinated against measles to prevent further spread of the highly contagious virus.
Cook County Health is also taking action by contacting patients and staff who may have been exposed to measles at various healthcare facilities. Measles can lead to serious complications, but it is entirely preventable with vaccination.
The CDC recommends that children receive two doses of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine to protect against measles. However, vaccination rates for measles in the US have been below federal targets, with the rate of vaccine exemptions on the rise.
To put the current situation into perspective, before the measles vaccine was developed, millions of people in the US were infected with the virus each year, leading to hundreds of deaths. Measles cases have been on the rise in the country, with 45 cases reported in 17 jurisdictions so far this year.
It is crucial for individuals to get vaccinated to protect themselves and others from measles. The collaboration between the CDC and local health departments in Chicago is a proactive step towards controlling the outbreak and preventing further spread of this dangerous virus.
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