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Measles

Measles Case Counts

Additional Information on the 2024 Chicago Outbreak

Number of Cases per Year

Year Number of Cases

2024 Cases per County

Jurisdiction Number of Cases

Last Updated: 4/25/2024

*Current case count for 2024. Subject to change.

Measles Cases in Illinois (1917-2024)

History of Measles in Illinois
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Year Cases Event
1917 49512  
1918 7525  
1919 18844  
1920 35400  
1921 29303  
1922 16540  
1923 46694  
1924 20144  
1925 28211  
1926 31511  
1927 41016  
1928 7414  
1929 38793  
1930 16678  
1931 39207  
1932 16069  
1933 12357  
1934 44679  
1935 58103  
1936 1228  
1937 12432  
1938 88150 Measles epidemic in the state of IL, with over 500 reported cases in 33 hours
1939 1269  
1940 8669  
1941 57075  
1942 10060  
1943 29695  
1944 19451  
1945 7930  
1946 25995  
1947 8341  
1948 41901  
1949 5820  
1950 19233  
1951 18164  
1952 32224  
1953 16746  
1954 33596  
1955 14742  
1956 41952  
1957 10826  
1958 24413  
1959 10913  
1960 22448  
1961 16931  
1962 16623  
1963 11862 First measles vaccines approved in US
1964 16906  
1965 5036  
1966 11514  
1967 1347  
1968 1291  
1969 1746  
1970 3085  
1971 3460 MMR vaccine is introduced
1972 4654  
1973 2162  
1974 2259  
1975 1853  
1976 2385  
1977 3992  
1978 1381  
1979 1636  
1980 351 IL Law strengthening school vaccinations
1981 24  
1982 24  
1983 216  
1984 186  
1985 341 Principia College Outbreak
1986 695  
1987 212  
1988 78  
1989 3213  
1990 1356  
1991 28  
1992 18  
1993 9  
1994 59 Principia College Outbreak
1995 2  
1996 3  
1997 7  
1998 1  
1999 2  
2000 3  
2001 3  
2002 1  
2003 1  
2004 1  
2005 2  
2006 0  
2007 1  
2008 32 DuPage County Home School Community Outbreak
2009 0  
2010 0  
2011 3  
2012 0  
2013 5  
2014 2  
2015 17 Cook County Daycare Outbreak
2016 2  
2017 0  
2018 5  
2019 9  
2020 0  
2021 0  
2022 0  
2023 5  
2024 56 City of Chicago Outbreak (ongoing)

What is measles?

Measles is a serious, highly contagious disease caused by a virus. The virus is spread easily through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes or by direct contact with infected nose or throat secretions.

How common is measles?

Prior to widespread immunization, measles was common in childhood. In fact, almost everyone born before 1957 has already had measles. Currently, measles usually occurs in preschool-age children who have not had their measles vaccine or in school-age children and young adults who have had only one shot of measles vaccine. Measles occurs primarily in the late winter and early spring.

With effective childhood immunization programs, measles cases in the United States, Canada and other countries have dropped by 99 percent. However, there was a marked increase in measles cases in the United States during 1989-1991. The majority of these cases occurred in non-immunized children, including almost 25 percent of cases in babies younger than 15 months of age. Low immunization rates among inner-city preschool children were a major contributing factor in this epidemic.

What are the signs and symptoms of measles?

Symptoms of measles include a rash that starts on the face and neck and then spreads, a high fever, runny nose, cough and red, watery eyes. The fever starts about 10 days (range seven to 18 days) after exposure. The rash appears about 14 days after exposure. Infants and adults usually are sicker than children and teenagers.

In the United States, death from measles has occurred at a rate of about two to three per 1,000 cases in recent years. These deaths occur mainly in children younger than 5 years of age, primarily from pneumonia and occasionally from encephalitis. Other complications include ear problems, diarrhea and brain damage.

Should a person with measles stay home?

Measles is very contagious, so stay away from work, school and social activities from the time when symptoms are first noticed until five days after the rash appears.

What is the treatment for measles?

Treatment includes bed rest, lots of fluids and medicine for fever and headache. Antibiotics do not help – either to cure measles or to prevent it. There are no anti-viral drugs for treating measles.

Can measles be prevented?

Measles can be prevented with measles vaccine. The vaccine is recommended for children at 12 months of age. This shot is given as measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine. A second shot of measles vaccine, usually MMR, is now required in Illinois for all children kindergarten through 12th grade. Anyone born after January 15, 1957, who has not had at least one dose of measles vaccine after 12 months of age or who has not had the measles should be immunized. All persons working in health care settings should receive two doses of measles vaccine (MMR) unless they have had the disease and, therefore, are immune. Anyone planning to travel internationally, should make sure they are protected against measles and other dangerous diseases before they go abroad.  Women should not get the vaccine if they are already pregnant or if they plan to get pregnant within three months after getting the vaccine. Acquired immunity after illness is permanent.

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