Feb. 14--The total number of people diagnosed with measles in Illinois inched up to 13 on Friday, according to health officials.
The outbreak has centered on the KinderCare Learning Center in Palatine, officials said. Cases confirmed Friday bring to 11 the number of children diagnosed since the outbreak began with a suburban Cook County adult who became ill in late January. One other adult has been diagnosed. Officials have not identified any of those involved in the outbreak.
Officials said Saturday that the two new cases were both infants younger than 1 year old who were at the Palatine KinderCare center.
News of the two new diagnosed cases was posted on state and county health department websites. Officials could not immediately be reached for comment Friday night.
Earlier this week, five children who had contracted the disease were allowed to go back to the day care center after they were no longer contagious.
At least eight infants -- too young to receive the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine -- contracted the highly contagious disease, health officials have said.
In reaction to the Palatine cases, KinderCare, the national chain that oversees the north suburban day care center, said it is requiring all staff working with children younger than 15 months to be vaccinated, according to a letter addressed to families.
Measles is a respiratory disease that can cause severe health complications, including pneumonia, encephalitis and, in rare cases, death. The virus is transmitted by contact with an infected person through coughing or sneezing and can remain alive in the air and on surfaces for up to two hours.
