Babies near Chicago get measles;

experts tell people to get their shots

By Chicago Tribune, adapted by Newsela staff on 02.08.15
Word Count 596

Pediatrician Charles Goodman (right) talks with patient Carmen Lopez, 37, holding her 18-month-old son,
Daniel, after being vaccinated with the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine (MMR) at his practice in
Northridge, California, Jan. 29, 2015. Photo: AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes

Five babies have come down with the measles at their day care center.
All ve of them are under the age of 1.
Health ofcials are trying to gure out how the babies caught the disease. The
babies all go to KinderCare Learning Center in Palatine, Illinois. Measles can
cause severe health problems. It spreads quickly from child to child.
About a week ago, Illinois discovered a case of the measles. An adult had the
disease. It was the rst case of measles this year. Health ofcials said it was an
adult who lives near Chicago. The person visited a Palatine health center and
grocery store. Palatine is where the day care center is located.

People Sick At Disneyland Too

Ofcials do not know if the babies caught the measles from the adult. They also
do not know if the Illinois outbreak is connected to Disneyland. This winter, more
than 100 people caught the disease at the California theme park.
There is a shot that keeps most people from getting the measles. The shot is
called a vaccine. Doctors say children should get the rst shot at 12 to 15
months old. Children are supposed to get the second shot at 4 to 6 years old,
before starting kindergarten. Measles used to be very common. Because of the
vaccine, it is rare. Most doctors have never even seen a case of it.
The shot works and is safe, experts say. Still, some parents choose not to get
their children vaccinated. Some say it is against their religion. Others worry that
it could be dangerous.

Too Young For The Shots

The babies at the day care were too young to be vaccinated.
Colleen Moran is the spokeswoman for KinderCare. She said that day care
students and workers who did not get the vaccine must stay home. KinderCare
runs 1,500 centers in the United States.
We just want everyone to recover quickly and to stay safe, Moran said.
Measles symptoms can include a high fever. People with the measles get a red
rash. The illness is spread through coughing and sneezing. It can remain in the
air and on surfaces for up to two hours. The measles is catching from four days
before the rash to four days afterward.
In the United States, nearly all children receive the vaccine. Still, one child in 12
does not get it on time.

Shots Protect Kids "For Life"

If a child only gets the rst shot of the vaccine, he can still get the measles. That
is why a second dose is necessary, said Dr. Tina Tan. She is a doctor at Lurie
Childrens Hospital in Chicago.
Children also need to get both vaccines at the right age. Then they are
"protected for life," Tan said.
A child who does not get the vaccine is much more likely to catch the measles.
The child also can spread it to others.

Stopping The Disease

If even six children out of 100 do not get the shot, the disease spreads faster
and faster.
Last month, Heather Robinson took her 15-month-old daughter for the measles
shot. The girl broke out into a rash that covered every inch of her body. It was
even in her ears, said Robinson. She lives near Chicago. I was totally freaking
out."
Robinson thought her daughter had come down with the measles. The rash was
not the disease. But it was caused by the shot. Still, Robinson is glad she had
her daughter vaccinated.
I have friends who dont vaccinate," she said. "Theyre depending on others to
be responsible.