Measles Outbreak Among Migrants Residing in Shelters in Chicago ¡ª February¨CMay 2024

What to know

  • Presentation Day/Time: Friday, April 25, 9:00–10:25 am
  • Presenter: Kimberly Gressick, MD, MPH, EIS officer assigned to the Chicago Department of Public Health, Behavioral Health Bureau
Kimberly Gressick, MD, MPH

What did we do?

  • Given the congregate setting and low measles vaccination coverage among ~2,100 residents in shelter A, the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) initiated a rapid public health response to control disease transmission in response to a lab confirmed case on March 7, 2024.

What did we find?

  • CDPH identified 58 measles cases, including 52 among shelter A residents (two residing in other shelters at the time of measles diagnosis), three among staff, and three among community members.

Why does it matter?

  • Rapid vaccine verification and vaccination quickly led to high vaccination coverage among shelter residents, preventing measles transmission.
  • Ensuring high MMR vaccination coverage, particularly among sheltered migrant populations, remains important to prevent future outbreaks.

Field Photo

EIS Class of 2023 officers Kimberly Gressick (left) and John Le (right) abstract information from hospital records to characterize an overdose outbreak.
EIS Class of 2023 officers Kimberly Gressick (left) and John Le (right) abstract information from hospital records to characterize an overdose outbreak.

Abstract Category: Measles

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Content Source:
About Public Health Infrastructure Center; Epidemic Intelligence Service