2 CPS students reported to have measles as new cases climb to 12, officials say

Two Chicago Public Schools students were among a handful of people reported to have measles, bringing the city’s total up to 12 as of Thursday evening, health and school officials confirmed.

Earlier this week, CPS learned of a positive measles case involving a student at Philip D. Armour Elementary School in Bridgeport and the Chicago Department of Public Health confirmed another case at Cooper Dual Language Elementary Academy in Pilsen.

Both schools communicated with all staff and families as part of “normal protocols.”

La Voz Sidebar

Lea este artículo en español en La Voz Chicago, la sección bilingüe del Sun-Times.

“The health, safety and well-being of our students and staff is a top priority and that is why Chicago Public Schools continues to work closely with our City partners, including the Chicago Department of Public Health to respond to any unvaccinated students, and two reported positive measles cases involving CPS students,” CPS said in a statement. “We will continue to provide resources, support and information to our entire community to ensure our valued staff and families have the appropriate information to stay safe.”

In a letter Wednesday, CPS CEO Pedro Martinez urged families and staff to reach out to their health care providers if they were unsure about their vaccination status and to visit pharmacies or CDPH immunization clinics to get the Measles, Mumps, Rubella vaccine if they need it.

“News like this can be unsettling, but I want to assure our CPS community that our schools are safe,” Martinez wrote.

He added the outbreak doesn’t share similarities with the COVID-19 pandemic because “the vast majority of Chicago residents — more than 90 percent — are protected from measles by the MMR vaccine.”

“Our schools often work directly with local healthcare providers and arrange for mobile units to visit their schools and help ensure students, including our new arrivals, have access to vaccination which is known as one of the best tools to protect our youth from severe childhood illness,” CPS said in a statement Thursday evening.

The Chicago Department of Public Health advised all school-aged Pilsen shelter residents to stay in place and not attend school since last Friday as the department and CPS continue to “ensure a strong process which allows only children who are fully immune to resume attending school safely.”

Of the 12 confirmed cases, 10 have been reported from inside a Pilsen migrant shelter, according to the department. The two students were among the previously positive cases reported by the CDPH. Both were at school during the contagious period.

Last week, the department confirmed the first two measles cases in the city since 2019.

Symptoms of measles, an airborne virus, can include rash, high fever, cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes, health officials said. Symptoms can take from seven to 21 days to show up after a person is exposed to someone with measles.

The virus is transmitted by direct contact with infectious droplets or by airborne spread when an infected person breathes, coughs or sneezes, according to the U,S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Measles virus can remain infectious in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves an area.

Chicago measles coverage

Health

Cicero measles case marks 2nd infection reported in suburban Cook County

The case has no known connection to the Chicago measles outbreak at a migrant shelter, according to health officials.

By Mary Norkol

 

Health

Measles outbreak slowing in Chicago

Three cases were detected in the last week after the city recorded more than 50 in less than a month.

By Kade Heather

 

News

Measles case confirmed in suburban Cook County, 52 cases reported in Chicago

The resident was exposed during their time at a migrant shelter. They have recovered and are no longer contagious, the Cook County Department of Public Health said.

By Cindy Hernandez

 

Health

'Small number' of tuberculosis infections detected at migrant shelters, says city health department

The Chicago Department of Public Health would not reveal the number of TB cases or identify shelters. A health department spokesperson said, “I would not characterize this as an outbreak.”

By Kaitlin Washburn

 

Health

5 more measles cases bring Chicago’s outbreak total to 31

Children ages 4 and younger account for 21 of the city’s total cases, according to the Chicago Department of Public Health. Officials say vaccination is the best way to prevent measles and stop its spread.

By Kade Heather

 

News

2nd dose of measles vaccine can slow outbreak, Chicago health officials say

Residents at the Pilsen migrant shelter should receive a second measles shot 28 days after their first one, the city’s Department of Public Health advised.

By Cindy Hernandez

 

Immigration

Day 4 of Chicago migrant evictions: Mayor Johnson urged to end them

The city began evicting migrants from its 23 shelters, affecting potentially 2,000 people by the end of April. Alderpersons are calling for a halt and greater transparency.

By Michael Loria

 

Health

2 more measles cases bring Chicago’s outbreak total to 15

The newest cases were both in children 4 years or younger, the same age group that has accounted for more than half of the city’s cases.

By Kade Heather

 

Immigration

Chicago slowly starts evicting migrants from shelters

Dozens of adults were expected to be evicted Sunday, amid an outbreak of measles, but just three were. They will be able to reapply for shelter at the city’s designated ‘landing zone.’

By Michael Loria

 

Immigration

Migrant evictions to begin Sunday; families in shelters get a reprieve

Beginning with 35 individuals Sunday, more than 2,000 people will be evicted by the end of April, the city announced Friday. Families will get a break until the end of the school year.

By Michael Loria and Fran Spielman

 

Immigration

What will Chicago migrant shelter evictions look like?

An untold number of migrants are expected to have to leave shelters Saturday, and what comes next is a mystery to many — perhaps “la calle,” one man said, gesturing toward Halsted Street.

By Michael Loria

 

Health

2 CPS students reported to have measles as new cases climb to 12, officials say

Earlier this week, Chicago Public Schools learned of a positive measles case involving a student at Philip D. Armour Elementary School, and the Chicago Department of Public Health confirmed another case at Cooper Dual Language Elementary Academy.

By Mohammad Samra

 

Editorials

Chicago's measles flare-up shows why vaccination is essential

Illinois is one of 17 states in which dozens of measles cases have been reported this year, including eight cases in a Chicago migrant shelter.

By CST Editorial Board

 

Immigration

Mayor Johnson confirms migrant evictions coming, despite measles outbreak and protests

Chicago’s mayor said the 60-day limit on shelter stays would, after previous delays, finally be enforced Saturday, impacting potentially thousands. There would, however, continue to be exemptions.

By Fran Spielman and Michael Loria

 

Health

Three more measles cases reported at Pilsen migrant shelter, bringing citywide total to eight

The Illinois Health Department said Tuesday it would mobilize resources to help Chicago and Cook County contain the spread of the virus.

By Cindy Hernandez

 

Health

Two more measles cases identified at Pilsen migrant shelter

The newest cases were both in adults at the shelter. The city’s total number of cases is up to five, the city health department says. More than 900 residents of the shelter were vaccinated over the weekend and are being quarantined for 21 days.

By Violet Miller

 

Health

Second case of measles found in child at Pilsen shelter, city's third case this week

The city health agency is currently screening other residents of the shelter at 2241 S. Halsted St. and those who may have come in contact with the children while they were contagious, officials said in a Sunday news release.

By Violet Miller

 

Immigration

With shelter evictions looming, migrants worry about access to housing, work permits

Dozens gathered Saturday in Pritzker Park to protest Mayor Brandon Johnson’s long-delayed plan to evict migrants living in shelters longer than 60 days. The order will go into effect March 16.

By Erica Thompson

 

Immigration

Measles reported at Chicago migrant shelter

Chicago health department officials said the patient has recovered and is no longer contagious. The shelter is on lockdown until residents are vaccinated, officials said.

By Michael Loria

 

Health

Chicago reports first measles cases since 2019, including child at Pilsen migrant shelter

Measles is a highly transmissible respiratory disease that can be prevented through the MMR vaccine.

By Phyllis Cha and Mary Norkol

 

Editorials

Measles outbreak shows the importance of getting kids vaccinated

None of the 23 measles cases in the U.S. between Dec. 1 and Jan. 23 were in Illinois. But the first measles cases since 2019 were reported in Cook County last year, and Illinois has seen an alarming uptick in the number of schools with low vaccination rates.

By CST Editorial Board

 

Health

Illinois reports first measles case in 4 years

The person, who was exposed to the virus in another country, was unvaccinated, the IDPH said.

By Kade Heather