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MEASLES

FIRST CASE IN ILLINOIS 2025 IN MARION ILLINOIS

Transmission and Infection Control
The measles virus spreads easily through contact with respiratory droplets and via airborne spread.
The virus can remain airborne for up to two hours after an infectious person leaves an area. Measles is highly contagious. Up to 90% of susceptible people who have contact with someone with measles will develop measles. Patients are contagious starting four days before through four days after rash onset (with rash onset date being day zero). Anyone with measles should isolate during that time except to seek necessary medical care. If medical care is required, patients should call to notify the facility of their diagnosis in advance.

HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS

Diagnosis
Healthcare providers and facilities should be alert for possible measles cases, especially in people who could have traveled to areas where cases are occurring. The measles prodrome usually lasts for two to four days but may persist for as long as eight days. Symptoms typically include fever and malaise, followed by conjunctivitis, coryza, and cough. The prodromal symptoms typically intensify a few days before the rash appears. The measles rash is typically maculopapular and starts on the head or hairline and spreads down the body. Providers should also be suspicious in those that are ill and had recent travel to countries or U.S. counties where there are measles (See attached resources for healthcare settings).

If you suspect measles, immediately place the patient in airborne isolation, and notify infection control. Non-immune (see below in Prevention section for definition of measles immunity) contacts of measles cases can be vaccinated within three days of exposure, or in some special situations given immune globulin within six days of exposure to prevent or ameliorate the illness. Providers should consider administering a second MMR to contacts over 12 months of age who were previously vaccinated with only one dose, as long as there are 28 or more days since the last dose of live vaccine. If you suspect measles, immediately place the patient in airborne isolation, and notify your infection control staff or clinic point person for measles response.

Reporting
Healthcare providers and facilities need to immediately report suspect measles cases to their local health department, or to IDPH. This means reporting at earliest clinical suspicion and at the point testing is requested; do not wait on laboratory confirmation or rely on laboratory reporting. Delays in reporting might result in avoidable exposures as well as missed prophylaxis options for non-immune close contacts. If unable to reach their local health department after-hours, providers can call IEMA-OHS at 217-782-7860 to reach someone at IDPH.

Testing
IDPH laboratory provides PCR testing of throat or nasopharyngeal swabs for measles at no cost to the patient or provider. It is recommended that testing of suspect measles cases by PCR be conducted at the state lab as testing at commercial laboratories can delay results by multiple days which then delays a public health response if the case is positive (see instructions for submission). Measles could be tested using measles-specific IgM antibody in serum via commercial lab and measles RNA by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in a respiratory specimen. Healthcare providers should obtain both a serum sample and a throat swab (or nasopharyngeal swab) from patients suspected to have measles. Swabs should be placed in viral transport media (VTM). IDPH MEASLES TESTING FLOWCHART https://dph.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/idph/files/publications/measles-flow-chart-draft-hrjlml.pdf

There are no recommendations at present for receiving a third MMR dose during outbreak settings.
Health care providers should ensure all patients are up to date on MMR vaccine.
1) Children: Continue to give MMR vaccine at 12-15 months of age, and 4-6 years of age.
2) Adults (non-high risk): Adults born during or after 1957 should have at least one dose of the MMR vaccine, or presumptive evidence of immunity.
Additional recommendations for certain high-risk populations include:
1) Students at post-high school educational institutions: Should have two doses of MMR, spaced out by at least 28 days, or evidence of immunity.
2) For individuals who are traveling internationally:
a) Infants 6 through 11 months of age should be given one dose of MMR vaccine. These children will still need their regularly scheduled MMR doses.
b) Individuals 12 months of age or older should have two doses of MMR, separated by at least 28 days.
3) Healthcare personnel (HCP) (all paid and unpaid persons working in health-care settings): Should have presumptive evidence of immunity to measles.
Presumptive evidence of immunity is defined as:
a) written documentation of vaccination with 2 doses of live measles or MMR vaccine administered at least 28 days apart,
b) laboratory evidence of immunity (positive serum IgG),
c) laboratory confirmation of disease, or
d) birth before 1957. (According to CDC, although birth before 1957 is considered as presumptive evidence of immunity, for unvaccinated HCP born before 1957 that lack laboratory evidence of measles immunity or laboratory confirmation of disease, health care facilities should consider vaccinating personnel with two doses of MMR vaccine at the appropriate interval.)
e) healthcare personnel who are non-immune should be excluded from work from Day 5 of first day of exposure till day 21 from last (not first) day of exposure.

Additional Resources & References:

• CDC Measles
• CDC: Measles Vaccination Information
• IDPH: Measles Testing Instructions
• CDC: Plan for Travel
• Infection Control Guidelines
• CDC Questions about Measles

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About Whooping Cough

• Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is a very contagious respiratory illness.
• Whooping cough may begin like a common cold, but unlike a cold, the coughing can last for weeks or months.
• Treating whooping cough early with antibiotics may make the infection less serious.

How it spreads

The bacteria that cause whooping cough spread easily from person to person through the air. When a person with whooping cough sneezes or coughs, they release small particles with the bacteria in them. Other people can then breathe in the bacteria.

These bacteria can spread when people spend a lot of time together or share breathing space.

Early symptoms

It usually takes 5 to 10 days for symptoms to appear after exposure to the bacteria that cause whooping cough. Sometimes symptoms don’t develop for as long as 3 weeks.

Appears like a common cold

Whooping cough appears similar to a common cold early on. Healthcare providers often don’t suspect or diagnose it until more severe symptoms appear.

Early symptoms can last for 1 to 2 weeks and usually include:

• Runny or stuffed-up nose
• Low-grade fever (less than 100.4°F)
• Mild, occasional cough

Antibiotics

Preventive antibiotics are also known as post-exposure antimicrobial prophylaxis (PEP). These are medicines given to someone who has been exposed to harmful bacteria to help prevent them from getting sick.
Some people should receive antibiotics to prevent them from getting sick if they have been around someone with whooping cough.

If you’ve been exposed to someone with whooping cough, talk to a healthcare provider about preventive antibiotics. A healthcare provider or health department generally decides who should get preventive antibiotics.

Vaccination

The best way to prevent whooping cough is to get vaccinated. CDC recommends whooping cough vaccination for everyone.

CALL RICHD 309-794-7080 to update your families Tdap for 11 and up and DTaP for those under age 7!

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NARCAN

SAVE A LIFE

Rock Island County Health Department is now a Drug Overdose Prevention Program participant.              

This means that we are able to freely distribute Narcan kits to residents of Rock Island County.

What is NARCAN?
NARCAN® (naloxone HCl) Nasal Spray is an opioid antagonist indicated for the emergency treatment of known or suspected opioid overdose, as manifested by respiratory and/or central nervous system depression. NARCAN® Nasal Spray is intended for immediate administration as emergency therapy in settings where opioids may be present. NARCAN® Nasal Spray is not a substitute for emergency medical care.

This is a free and confidential service. We will not ask for any personal information as providing this lifesaving treatment at no cost is to ensure lifesaving treatment is available for anyone that may need it.

Narcan kits (2 doses in each kit) is available for pick up Monday through Friday from 8-430 PM at the Rock Island County Health Department. We will also provide you the information on how to administer the Narcan along with handouts to keep on hand for how to administer as well.

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About the Rock Island County Health Department

Rock Island County Health Department prevents disease, promotes wellness of mind and body, protects public health and prepares for emergencies.   To learn more visit or call us at 309-793-1955.