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Director's Letters – Friday, March 28, 2025
Dr. Vohra Addresses Ongoing Preparations with Measles Cases Rising in Other States
Dear Colleague:
While at this time there have been no measles cases in Illinois, the US is experiencing a significant surge in cases in 20 other states and jurisdictions. The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has been closely monitoring the situation and taking proactive steps to protect Illinois residents. As of this time, the vast majority of cases nationwide (416 of 483) are in New Mexico and Texas.
I would like to reassure you and the public by highlighting IDPH activities as we collaborate to prevent measles cases in Illinois.
Built Capacity from 2024 Measles Outbreak
IDPH is building on recent experience responding to last year’s measles outbreak in Northern Illinois with the City of Chicago and the Cook, Will, DuPage, and Lake County Health Departments. Through strong partnerships with local health departments, other State government agencies, schools, healthcare providers, and community partners, we mobilized vaccinations and infection control measures to minimize the outbreak to only 67 cases and end the outbreak within two months.
Data and Surveillance
In addition to monitoring for possible measles cases in Illinois and updates on cases nationwide and globally, IDPH has been working with the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) to analyze updated school immunization data. IDPH is also developing a predictive modeling tool to simulate potential outbreaks based on the vaccination rates in that specific setting.
School and Local Health Department Outreach and Engagement
IDPH has launched needs assessment and outbreak readiness surveys for schools and local health departments, with a focus on schools with less than 96% measles vaccination rates. A call-to-action was sent to schools on 3/24/25 that included resources for monitoring, promoting, and increasing vaccination among students.
In addition, IDPH has been conducting active outreach to local health departments with lower childhood vaccination coverage rates to increase vaccination rates and to examine local barriers to vaccination and resources needed to support community vaccine education. In partnership with these health departments, we are deploying mobile vaccine clinics in areas with the lowest rates of vaccinated school children.
Ensuring Vaccine Access
IDPH continues to monitor local vaccine availability and access, and the IDPH Immunizations Section continues to enroll and provide technical assistance to Vaccines for Children (VFC) providers.
Communications
IDPH continues to send critical updates to healthcare providers via SIREN. Health advisories were sent earlier this month with updates on United States measles cases and guidance on diagnosis, reporting, testing, vaccination (including vaccination prior to travel), post-exposure prophylaxis, prevention, and infection control. All measles-related IDPH webpages, including a dashboard of measles cases, have recently been updated. In addition, local health departments were briefed on measles preparedness earlier this month.
To ensure the public remains informed and updated, IDPH and its partners are working to disseminate accurate, evidence-based information about measles and the measles vaccine.
Though measles cases are expected to continue to rise in the United States, we have the tools to prevent further spread of this disease. IDPH will continue to actively work to protect Illinois residents from this preventable disease and to keep you, our partners, updated. I thank you as always for all that you do for the health and wellbeing of our state.
Yours in good health,
Sameer Vohra, MD, JD, MA
Director
Illinois Department of Public Health
