2 more measles cases confirmed; 98 Chicago migrants placed in quarantine hotel after exposure
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Two more measles cases were reported in Chicago Thursday evening – for a total of 12, of which 10 have been linked to a migrant shelter in Pilsen.
The Chicago Department of Public Health said six adults and six children have been confirmed to have measles over the past week. Only two are unrelated to the shelter at 2248 S. Halsted St. in Pilsen, which is the city's largest.
"I can't stress this enough: vaccination, vaccination, vaccination. Vaccination is our shield against preventable diseases like measles, COVID-19, rubella, varicella, and flu," CDPH Commissioner Olusimbo 'Simbo' Ige, said in a news release. "I urge all Chicagoans, whether new arrivals or not, to get vaccinated. If you and your children are vaccinated, you are not at high risk. But if not, please take action now to protect yourselves and your community."
Meanwhile, a total of 98 migrants have been placed in quarantine for measles exposure at a Chicago-area hotel set up by the State of Illinois. Of those 98 migrants, 48 of them are children.
They have all been exposed to measles and will stay in the hotel for 21 days.
The hotel is not open to public. It is only being used as a quarantine shelter.
As of Thursday afternoon, there were 10 confirmed cases of measles in Chicago – all but two of which are linked to the city's largest migrant shelter at 2248 S. Halsted St. in Pilsen.
Officials have about 900 measles vaccinations have been given at the Pilsen migrant shelter since this past weekend – amounting to everyone eligible for the vaccine, and ringing the percentage of people immune to measles at the shelter up to 95 percent or more.
Those who were exposed, or who are especially vulnerable and cannot be vaccinated – such as pregnant women – are the ones who needed to be relocated.
Previously, Mayor Brandon Johnson said the quarantine period is 20 days.