A Measles Outbreak Has Hit The Midwest

According to WQAD, measles has recently spread to 21 states, including Illinois, and over 100 cases have been reported so far this year. The majority of people who caught the illness were not vaccinated.

The virus is typically spread through coughing and sneezing. Symptoms include runny nose, cough, fever, and red rash and they typically appear 10-14 days after exposure. If your child is not vaccinated or is too young to receive the vaccine, be careful when out in public, especially those who live in these 21 states:

Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, and Washington, and Washington D.C.

Iowa has not had any reported cases of the illness, but a measles patient did visit the state from Missouri at the end of April, prompting a measles warning from health officials.