WARNING: Potential measles exposure at Midway Airport, suburban hospital

CHICAGO - People may have been exposed to measles at Midway Airport and Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital after an Illinois resident who passed through the two locations has now been confirmed to be diagnosed with the disease.

The infected and unvaccinated person arrived in Concourse B at Chicago Midway Airport on February 22, 2019. People may have been exposed to the disease if they were at the airport between 9 p.m. and midnight.

The infected person also sought treatment at Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital on February 24, 2019. People who were in the emergency department between 11:45 a.m. and 2:15 p.m. may have been exposed to measles. Also, people who were in the hospital from 4 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. on February 24 and from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on February 25 may have been exposed.

Most people are vaccinated during their childhood and are not at high risk of becoming infected with measles. Of most concern are people who have not been vaccinated.

If infected, you could develop symptoms as late as March 20, 2019. Symptoms of measles include rash, high fever, cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes.

If you develop symptoms of measles, the Illinois Department of Public Health recommends you call or email a health care provider before going to a medical office or emergency department. Special arrangements can be made for your evaluation while also protecting other patients and medical staff from possible infection.

"Measles is highly contagious. However, two doses of measles vaccine are about 97 percent effective in preventing measles,” Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike said in a statement. “We urge everyone to make sure they and their family members are up-to-date on measles/mumps/rubella (MMR) vaccine and all other age-appropriate immunizations, especially if you are traveling to other countries where measles is regularly found.  Getting vaccinated not only protects you, it protects others around you who are too young to get the vaccine or cannot receive it for medical reasons."

Measles is easily spread through the air when someone coughs or sneezes. People can also get sick when they come in contact with mucus or saliva from an infected person.

For more information on measles, CLICK HERE