The measles outbreak that has been plaguing a Chicago migrant shelter since March has finally been declared over, according to a report by the city's Department of Public Health and detailed by the Chicago Tribune. The shelter, located on the city's Lower West Side, was at the center of the outbreak, which racked up a total of 64 cases. No new cases have been reported since April 20, marking a victory in the containment effort that spanned over two critical incubation periods for the virus.
Olusimbo Ige, the CDPH Commissioner, emphasized the constant readiness required of the city, which sees tens of millions of visitors annually. In an effort to rapidly curtail the spread of the disease, public health officials mobilized resources to administer vaccinations amid concerns over the migrants' immunization status. "Chicago ... is a city where we welcome between 50 to 60 million people every year. So we must be ready. We must always be ready to go," Ige told the Tribune.
The outbreak had caused significant concern due to the highly contagious nature of measles, a virus that spreads through airborne particles from coughs or sneezes and can be particularly dangerous for babies and young children. The first positive case to emerge at the shelter prompted a school and healthcare response that included quarantining and a major vaccination push. "Measles is probably the most contagious virus that we know of," Dr. Larry Kociolek from Lurie Children's Hospital said in a statement obtained by CBS Chicago. "On average, one child will spread it to 18 additional children if they're not vaccinated."
CDC experts were dispatched to aid local health officials in tackling the outbreak, providing guidance on targeted vaccination campaigns, and identifying potential exposures. The vaccination rates among migrants have drastically improved since the start of the crisis, with nearly 900 migrants at the shelter being vaccinated who had no prior proof of immunity, as per the CDPH. Officials are hopeful to achieve vaccine coverage of over 95% after the 21-day mark of the vaccinations. "The vaccine is safe and extremely effective. If your children fell behind on vaccinations during the pandemic, it is not too late to catch up," Dr. Katrine Wallace, an epidemiologist at the University of Illinois at Chicago, told CBS Chicago.
Despite the conclusion of this outbreak, cases of measles have been reported to be on the rise globally. Families with children are especially urged to ensure vaccinations are current to maintain herd immunity standards and prevent future outbreaks. The inherent importance of vaccinations was underscored by a stark reminder from Mayor Brandon Johnson, "We have a quarantine plan. It's a 20-day quarantine, so this is not something that is going to go away immediately. So this quarantine is 21 days," the mayor said. Johnson also stressed that the city is on a robust path to overcoming vaccine hesitancy, with a significant number of migrants who were previously unvaccinated now receiving their shots.
