IN Health Dep. confirms measles case in Lake County, patient sought care in Chicago while contagious

LAKE COUNTY, Ind. (WLS) -- The Indiana Health Department has confirmed the state's first case of measles in five years.

A Lake County resident has measles, first case in Indiana since 2019.

The Chicago Department of Public Health said it is investigating exposure to measles in Chicago because the Lake County patient sought medical care at three Chicago hospitals while contagious between Feb. 11 and Feb. 16.

CDPH said it is in touch with the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as leadership at all three hospitals, to identify and notify people who may have been expposed to measles.

No additional locations of possible exposures have been identified in Chicago or in Illinois, CDPH said.

The IDOH said more than 93% of people who receive a single dose of MMR will develop immunity to measles, and more than 97% will be protected after receiving a second dose. Two doses of the vaccine are needed to be fully protected.

Individuals are encouraged to check with their healthcare providers to ensure vaccinations are up to date. Individuals born before 1957 are presumed to be immune to measles.

Children are routinely vaccinated for measles at 12 to 15 months old, and again at 4 to 6 years old old before going to kindergarten, but children as young as 6 months old can receive the measles vaccine if they are at risk.

Three Northwest Indiana vaccination clinics are offering free MMR vaccination for people older than 1 year who would like to get vaccinated on Wednesday, Feb. 28 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. CST:

• Gary Health Department, at 1145 W. Fifth Ave. in Gary

• East Chicago Health Department at 100 W. Chicago Ave. in East Chicago

• Jean Shepard Community Center at 3031 J. F. Mahoney Drive in Hammond

The video in the player above is from a previous report.