Measles Update: New Case

In addition to a previous case (more information and possible points of contact list here) a second case of the measles has been identified in the area with more possible points of contact. If you suspect you may have symptoms, they emphasize limiting your exposure to others due to the highly contagious nature of the illness. From today's News-Gazette:

Second case of measles confirmed in Champaign-Urbana
The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District is reporting a second local case of measles, with both of the infected people connected to the University of Illinois.

But there's no reason to believe they know each other since the virus lingers in the air for two hours after the infectious person has left, said health district Administrator Julie Pryde...

Possible sites of measles exposure

URBANA — Public health officials have released possible measles exposure sites for the second person confirmed to be infected:
➜ Jan. 18: 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at McKinley Health Center, University of Illinois.
➜ Jan. 27 to 31: Maywood Apartment Building, 51 E. John St., C.
➜ Jan. 28: 9:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. at UI School of Social Work.
➜ Jan. 29: 3 to 6 p.m. at UI School of Social Work.
➜ Jan. 31: 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Carle Foundation Hospital Emergency Department.

More at the 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: Most, not all local students vaccinated for measles.

Previous testing had been negative for new infections and it was hoped that the outbreak could be declared over on February 9th. In an article earlier this week the News-Gazette had some additional information for people experiencing measles symptoms:

The hotline can be reached at 217-902-6000, and it's available from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Carle patients can check on their measles vaccination history through the hotline and through the MyCarle system, she said.

Carle also has staff members posted at the doors of its clinic locations handing out facial masks to patients walking in with symptoms of contagious illness, according to Mullin.

Christie Clinic is encouraging people to call their doctors' offices first if they are experiencing a rash and fever or suspect they have measles, according to clinic spokeswoman Jenna Koss.

Full article here. More information on the measles, including symptoms, from IDPH here.