Southern Illinois measles outbreak is over, according to state officials

The Illinois Department of Public Health reports that the spring measles outbreak in southern Illinois is over.

They said a total of eight cases, all linked to one another, were identified in southern Illinois in April and May. An outbreak is defined as at least three cases, with at least one lab-confirmed.

Two more unrelated cases were identified in Cook County, but health officials said there was no further indication of any additional spread.

According to IDPH, no new Illinois cases have been diagnosed since May 22, meaning two full incubation periods have passed since the last confirmed case.

The department activated mobile vaccinations to help with immunization efforts across the state, and local southern Illinois health departments held vaccine outreach clinics in their communities.

The Illinois measles cases came as the nation has been facing the largest number of cases since measles was officially eliminated from the U.S. in 2000. However, global measles activity increased and it was re-introduced here by travelers.

As of this week, the U.S. has seen 1288 cases reported in 39 states, with 750 of those occurring in west Texas.

The CDC reports that 92 percent of those cases occurred in people who had not received the measles/mumps/rubella vaccine.