Another suburban Cook County child has measles; 11 cases confirmed in state

(PALATINE) Another suburban Cook County child has been confirmed to have measles, bringing the total to 11 people in Illinois, officials said Wednesday.

Ten people who have been infected with measles are associated with KinderCare Learning Center in Palatine, including this new case, the Sun-Times is reporting.

Ten of those with measles live in suburban Cook County, health officials said. Eight of those are children; two are adults. One of those children lives in Chicago.

All of the people infected so far had not been vaccinated for measles, the Illinois Department of Public Health said.

It’s not clear how the children at KinderCare, or the adult, who had no affiliation with suburban Cook County, became infected.

Measles is a highly contagious respiratory disease that can cause severe health complications, including pneumonia, encephalitis and death.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says children should be given the first dose of measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine when they are 12 to 15 months old. The second dose usually is given before the start of kindergarten at 4 to 6 years of age.

The DuPage county health department had warned of possible exposure at three locations. But the state health department has not confirmed any cases there.

–Sun-Times