A Chicago shelter in Pilsen is under scrutiny after a young child staying there was diagnosed with measles, according to the Chicago Department of Public Health. The child has since recovered and is no longer infectious, but health officials are now working to identify anyone who may have been exposed.

New safety orders have been implemented for residents at the shelter, located in the 2200-block of South Halsted Street. Vaccinated individuals are allowed to leave the shelter, while unvaccinated residents must remain and undergo screening for symptoms, as well as being offered the measles vaccine.

Furthermore, an investigation is underway to determine who the child may have come into contact with while infectious. Health officials are also reaching out to the public for information, as a separate case of measles was reported in Chicago on Feb. 27, 2024, marking the city’s first case since 2019. Individuals who were at specific locations during the specified times are urged to contact the Chicago Department of Public Health for further guidance.

Dr. Nicholas Cozzi of RUSH University Medical Center emphasized the airborne nature of measles, highlighting the potential for the virus to linger in the air for hours or even days after an infected person has been in the vicinity. This poses a significant risk to unvaccinated individuals, particularly young children and babies, as measles can be highly contagious and even life-threatening.

Health officials attribute the resurgence of measles to vaccine hesitancy, with 41 cases reported in the U.S. in the first two months of this year, compared to 58 cases throughout the entirety of last year. The assessment of shelter residents is set to commence early Friday morning.