Area Measles Update

 

There was a potential for the spread of the measles recently that included multiple locations in the Champaign and campus area. Below is an update excerpt with some additional information and links. From the News-Gazette today:

3-4 more being tested for measles after last week's confirmed case
Three or four people are being tested for measles after an unidentified person was diagnosed with the highly contagious disease last week, according to the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District.

The people have symptoms, or were unvaccinated and possibly exposed to the initial patient, said Julie Pryde, the health district's administrator...

The initial patient appears to have been a University of Illinois student or had some connection to the university, having spent time in the last couple weeks at various buildings on campus, and at the Texas Roadhouse in west Champaign.

The UI sent a mass email about the local measles case, saying the McKinley Health Center is working with the health district to identify at-risk individuals.

Full article here. Additional information on the measles from the Illinois Department of Public Health here. WCCU looked into information on the number of area people who may be at risk due to a lack of vaccinations and found it to be very small:

According to the data reported by the district, about 98 percent of its students have received their measles vaccinations.

The district reported 76 unvaccinated students — 52 of them citing religious objections, eight for medical reasons, two students with scheduled immunizations at the time the data was collected and three students exempt under a homeless assistance act.

Out of the 76 unvaccinated students, Unit 4 officials said 11 of them were documented as in non-compliance with the law.

According to Unit 4, these 11 students wouldn’t be allowed to attend school until they got vaccinated.

Full blurb here. The News-Gazette also listed the known exposure sites (map available at the link here):

Jan. 12 and 13
— Between 3 p.m. and close at Texas Roadhouse, 204 N. Country Fair Drive, C.

Jan. 14
— Between 8 a.m. and noon at the University of Illinois' Mumford Hall, 1301 W. Gregory Drive, U.

— Between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. at the UI's David Kinley Hall, 1407 W. Gregory Drive, U.

— Between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the UI Psychology Building, 603 E. Daniel St., C.

— Between 5:30 and 8:30 p.m. at County Market, 2901 W. Kirby Ave., C.

Jan. 15
— Between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. at the UI Agricultural Engineering Science Building, 1304 W. Pennsylvania Ave., U.

— Between 3:30 and 6:30 p.m. at the Illini Union Bookstore, 809 S. Wright St., C.

Jan. 17
— Between 8 and 11 a.m. at the UI's McKinley Health Center, 1109 S. Lincoln Ave., U.

Jan. 18
— Between 2 and 5 p.m. at McKinley Health Center.
Saturday

— Between 11:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. at the emergency room at Carle Foundation Hospital, 600 W. Park St., U.

Full article available here. The full Health District press release as well as a video segment is available from the WCIA News here. Excerpt from article:

Officials are now warning people what to watch out for. One person got the virus and exposed the infection at several locations in Champaign and Urbana. Even though those places are now safe, the Public Health District is still putting out an alert because it is highly contagious.

The patient was put in isolation immediately after being diagnosed and is recovering. But the virus has an incubation period of four days before and after the rash starts. So there are some things they want people to know to make sure you don't have it.

Most people got the measles vaccination as a child. Those who didn't are at a high risk. Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Director Julie Pryde says, "If you're not vaccinated and you're exposed, nine out of ten people will get it. So it's very contagious."

So far, only one person in Champaign County was reported to have contracted the virus. But that person didn't realize it for days. Pryde says, "The person was in public places before they were aware they were sick."

Full article here.