SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WREX) � As measles outbreaks unfold across the country, health officials in Illinois are trying to highlight the risks of the disease if it were to spread into the state, especially among kids.
The Illinois Dept. of Public Health on Tuesday announced the rollout of their new in an effort to help school officials and the public assess the potential outcomes of any measles outbreaks should they happen.
IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra stresses that there have been no reported measles cases in Illinois since an outbreak in Chicago early last year, but that they are closely monitoring developments in Texas and New Mexico. Hundreds of cases have been confirmed with three deaths, two of them children.
"IDPH continues to work closely with our local public health and health care partners as we prepare for any potential measles cases in Illinois," Dr. Vohra said. "Our new dashboard provides the public with the ability to review the measles vaccination rates in their child’s school and its risk for an outbreak."
The dashboard is meant to help school administrators and staff to assist in any decisions surrounding preventing the spread of measles and preventing outbreaks.
The site uses 2023-24 vaccination and enrollment data and additional parameters to project the size and spread of a measles outbreak at any Illinois school Pre-K through 12th Grade. The IDPH says the dashboard will be updated with 2024-25 data as soon as it becomes available.
"Vaccination is the most effective tool we have to prevent the spread of measles and protect the health of our students," said State Superintendent of Education Dr. Tony Sanders. "We are grateful to IDPH for equipping school leaders, parents, and the public with clear, actionable data to assess measles risk and plan proactively. I encourage every school administrator to explore this resource to support families in staying informed and up to date on vaccinations."
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says one dose of the measles/mumps/rubella (MMR) vaccine is 93% effective against the measles and two doses are 97% effective. For those who are not vaccinated, measles is more contagious as an airborne infection.
Measles can cause serious and long-term complications, including pneumonia and swelling of the brain. Most Illinois residents received the measles vaccine when they were kids, providing long-lasting protection, with the risk of getting measles very low.
