Springfield, IL  (CAPITOL CITY NOW) –  The Illinois Department of Public Health has confirmed the first measles case of the year in the state. The case involves an adult in far southern Illinois and was confirmed by lab testing on Wednesday.

Health officials say the risk to the general public is low, and this is not considered an outbreak.

The infected person visited a health clinic in southern Illinois. The clinic is now working to find out who may have been exposed. All healthcare staff who were in contact with the patient were wearing masks and are believed to be protected.

Measles symptoms can include a high fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, and a rash. These symptoms usually appear one to three weeks after being exposed. If you think you might have measles, IDPH asks that you call your doctor before going to a clinic or hospital to avoid spreading the illness to others.

Other parts of the country are seeing larger outbreaks. IDPH reports more than 800 measles cases have been reported nationwide this year, according to CDC data. Illinois has had no other reported cases of measles since an outbreak of 67 cases in Chicago in early 2024.

IDPH has launched a new tool called the Measles Outbreak Simulator Dashboard, allowing families to check vaccination rates at any public or private school in the state.

IDPH is encouraging all Illinois residents to make sure they are up to date on their vaccinations, especially young children and people traveling to areas with outbreaks.

Health officials remind everyone that two doses of the MMR vaccine are 97% effective at preventing measles.

More information on measles is available at IDPH website.