As measles cases across the country increase, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is reminding residents to protect themselves by confirming they are vaccinated against the disease. While the risk for getting measles remains very low for residents, vaccination is the most effective step people can take to protect themselves and their loved ones.
In 2026 to date, there have been 23 confirmed measles cases in Illinois, mainly driven by an outbreak in Douglas and Moultrie Counties in central Illinois(16 cases). The outbreak, defined as three or more cases connected by a common source, is among unvaccinated people or those with an unknown vaccination history. The affected local health departments have made considerable efforts to mitigate the outbreak through intensified vaccination campaigns and community outreach.
Additional recent cases not related to outbreaks have been identified in Kane County in suburban Chicago and Madison County in the Metro-East. IDPH maintains a list of potential exposure areas, available here.
“The key to preventing measles is the highly effective measles/mumps/rubella (MMR) vaccine, two doses of which are 97% effective in preventing measles. While Illinois is fortunate to have high vaccination rates overall, there are still areas across the state with lower vaccination rates where people are at high risk,” said IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra. “IDPH continues to work closely with local health departments to offer vaccination opportunities and develop strategies to minimize spread. To keep yourself and your loved ones safe, confirm you are up to date on the MMR vaccine and all other age-appropriate immunizations.”
Measles is a highly contagious disease that can spread easily through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes, or through direct contact with nose or throat secretions from an infected individual. Although measles was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000, it has resurged in recent years due to a drop in national immunization rates.
Additional prevention information is available on IDPH’s Measles webpage.
IDPH’s online data resources include the School Vaccination Coverage Dashboard and the Measles Outbreak Simulator Dashboard.
