Kane County Confirms Second Measles Case Tied to Kaneland High School

Kane County health officials confirmed a second measles case on Wednesday. The patient had contact with the county's first case, which was Kane County's first confirmed measles case since 2019.

The Kane County Health Department said the newly confirmed patient was exposed through contact with the first case, reported Aug. 24 and linked to Kaneland High School in Maple Park. The department is investigating the second case and has not released additional details about the patient's age or hometown.

The patient in the second case is vaccinated against measles, health officials said. Vaccination provides strong protection against measles, mumps and rubella, though no vaccine offers complete immunity in every case.

Health officials are asking anyone who was vaccinated and potentially exposed to watch for symptoms for 21 days after exposure. Symptoms include high fever, cough and rash. People who were exposed and are not vaccinated are being told to follow quarantine restrictions set by the health department.

Anyone who develops symptoms is being told to call a healthcare provider before going to a medical facility, instead of arriving at an emergency department or clinic without notice, so staff can prepare to isolate the patient and prevent further spread.

The first case, confirmed Aug. 24, was Kane County's first measles case since 2019. Before that, the county had not recorded a case since the 1990s. The health department opened a testing site tied to the first case while notifying people who may have been exposed at or around Kaneland High School.

Measles was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000, meaning the disease no longer spread continuously within the country. Kane County health officials said the number of measles cases has increased nationwide in recent years and said the country risks losing that elimination status if outbreaks continue to produce sustained transmission.

Measles spreads through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs or sneezes, and it can linger in a space for up to two hours after that person has left. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the virus can infect up to 90% of unvaccinated people who come into close contact with someone who has it.

The Kane County Health Department has not said whether it expects additional cases or set a timeline for when the investigation into the second case will conclude. Residents seeking information on exposure sites or vaccination records are being directed to contact the health department.