A second case of measles has been confirmed in Chicago, as a child at a migrant shelter in Pilsen has been diagnosed with the virus. The child has since recovered and is no longer contagious, but health officials are conducting an investigation to determine who may have come into contact with the child while they were still infectious.
As a precautionary measure, all residents of the shelter are required to stay on-site until they can be screened. Vaccinated individuals will be permitted to leave, while unvaccinated residents will be offered the measles vaccine. Health officials are also working to identify anyone who may have been exposed outside of the shelter, including in public settings.
Measles is a highly contagious virus that can be particularly dangerous for young children and babies. However, vaccination is proven to be highly effective at preventing both infection and transmission. The recent resurgence of measles in the U.S. has been partially attributed to vaccine hesitancy, with 41 cases reported in the first two months of this year compared to 58 cases for the entirety of last year.
The assessment of shelter residents is set to begin early Friday morning in an effort to contain any further spread of the measles virus. Stay tuned for updates as this situation continues to develop.
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