The Indiana Department of Health (IDOH) has confirmed a case of measles in a northwest Indiana resident who sought medical care last week at three Chicago hospitals while contagious from February 11-16. The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) is in close contact with IDOH, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and leadership at the three health facilities to identify and notify people that may have been exposed to measles. No additional exposure locations have been identified in Chicago or Illinois. Cases of measles are exceedingly rare in Chicago due to high vaccination coverage from childhood, but measles is highly contagious and can be dangerous to those who are unvaccinated, especially babies and young children. The measles-mumps-rubella vaccine (MMR) is extremely effective at preventing measles and remains by far the best protection against measles for people of all ages. Measles is a serious respiratory infection that causes a rash and high fever and is capable of leading to pneumonia and other complications. A first dose of MMR is recommended at 12 months of age and a second at 4 to 6 years of age, but it is never too late to get your MMR vaccine if you haven’t already. For more information about measles and how you can protect yourself, visit the CDC website.