Illinois Monitoring Spread of Highly Infectious Disease as Students Prepare to Return

I recently read an article saying the University of Illinois is on high alert for measles. That got me thinking: Are measles cases exploding in Illinois? Are we in the Tri-States staring down some looming outbreak? Did I somehow miss the public health equivalent of a tornado siren for the past eight months? The honest answer to all three questions is a pretty emphatic, no.

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Let’s start with the basics. Measles is an airborne virus that, yes, can spread like wildfire, especially among people who aren’t vaccinated. It’s one of the most contagious diseases we know. In fact, about 90% of unvaccinated people who come into contact with it will get sick. The symptoms start like a bad cold (fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes) and then progress to tiny white spots in the mouth, followed by a distinctive rash. It can lead to serious complications, especially for young children, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems. It's worth noting that most people will recover within 10 days or so, provided care is taken.

Yes, there’s been a surge in U.S. measles cases this year, but most of that surge is coming from a Texas-based outbreak along the New Mexico border. That cluster has driven up national numbers to the tune of 801 confirmed cases and two deaths.

However, in Illinois, they've only had ten confirmed cases in 2025, the first in April of this year, with the latest discovered in May. For comparison, in Iowa, we've reported eight, and Wisconsin has nine. That’s not nothing, but it’s a far cry from an uncontrolled epidemic.

So why is the University of Illinois so alert? Well, in just a few weeks, more than 60,000 students from all over the world will arrive in Champaign-Urbana. Some 30,000 will attend the University of Iowa, and another nearly 50,000 will be learning at the University of Wisconsin. That's a lot of people in tight quarters, hence some additional need to be proactive.

Some students will come from places where measles is circulating. When you have that many people suddenly living, eating, and studying together, especially in dorms or shared apartments, the risk of transmission goes up. Here's the caveat, though, only if someone brings the virus with them. It’s the same reason nursing homes, military barracks, and cruise ships worry about contagious illnesses: close quarters make easy targets for viruses.

Currently, there are several large measles outbreaks around the globe. Many of the heaviest outbreaks are centered in the Middle East. Yemen has over 15,000 cases, Pakistan with over 12,000, and India with over 10,000. Even Canada currently has just over 3,000 cases.

The good news? Reports show the measles vaccine works; coupled with our much cleaner lifestyles (soap, hand washing, common manners), measles has mostly been obliterated. The U.S. achieved its "measles elimination status" in the year 2000. Speaking of which, one vaccine dose is about 93% effective; two doses give you 97% protection for life. If you’re vaccinated, you can sit next to someone with measles and be fairly protected. That’s why health officials are urging vaccinations, even when case numbers are low.

Bottom line: Measles is not running rampant in Illinois right now, and the Tri-States aren’t in any immediate danger. But like a storm that could pop up on the radar, an outbreak is always possible in the right conditions. Scientific reports say staying vaccinated against this virus is the best way to ensure we keep outbreaks low and manageable as a nation.