A recent report from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has revealed that 84 percent of the latest measles cases in Chicago are connected to undocumented immigrants from Venezuela.
The remaining 16 percent of cases are associated with individuals traveling from Peru and Chile.
According to the Daily Mail, the surge of 57 cases at the Pilsen migrant shelter can be traced back to a one-year-old boy who had only received one of the two essential vaccines. The CDC stated that the majority of the cases, accounting for 72 percent, were among unvaccinated individuals.
The report attributes the rampant spread of the disease to overcrowding at the center, with an estimated 500 individuals crammed into a single room. The first patient, who had arrived in the US less than five months before falling ill, had received one dose of the MMR vaccine five weeks prior to developing a rash. The patient had no recent travel history or known exposure to measles and was admitted to the hospital on February 27.
The infected child has since recovered, but the number of migrants exposed to the disease at the shelter remains uncertain. In March, Chicago Alderman Byron Sigcho-Lopez, who represents the neighborhood where the shelter is located, expressed his concerns to NewsNation. He said, "Right now, with this potential exposure to a rapidly spreading virus such as measles, it's critical to have an isolation plan."
Sigcho-Lopez further emphasized the need for isolation during testing and the importance of waiting for test results while individuals are sheltering in place. He said, "This is, unfortunately, a process that is too long when you have 1,800 people (in the shelter). I recognize the progress that has been made, but given how quickly this virus is spreading, we need to get people isolated."
The alderman also called for a commitment from the governor to improve protocols to enhance conditions and prevent similar cases in the future. He said, "I think what we want from the governor is the commitment to better protocols so we can work toward better conditions and prevent cases like this."
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