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IDPH rolls out new measles
simulator dashboard to empower school officials to protect students
and staff from outbreaks
[April 10, 2025]
SPRINGFIELD – With cases of measles
being reported in more than 20 jurisdictions around the United
States, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has unveiled
a new data dashboard to help school officials and members of the
public assess the potential severity of any outbreaks of measles,
should one occur in Illinois. The new
Measles Outbreak Simulator Dashboard makes it easy for the
public to find out the measles vaccination rate in any school in
Illinois, public or private, and to determine the risk of a child
being exposed to measles if a case is introduced in their school.
Illinois has had no reported cases of measles since an outbreak in
Chicago in early 2024 and there are currently no active measles
outbreak investigations in Illinois. However, IDPH officials are
closely monitoring an outbreak in Texas and New Mexico that has
resulted in more than 530 confirmed cases, including three deaths,
two of them children.
“IDPH continues to work closely
with our local public health and health care partners as we prepare
for any potential measles cases in Illinois,” said IDPH Director Dr.
Sameer Vohra. “The Department is building on the lessons we learned
from our successful measles response in 2024 by ensuring that our
residents have access to meaningful information to guide their
decision-making. Our new dashboard provides the public with the
ability to review the measles vaccination rates in their child’s
school and its risk for an outbreak. Two doses of measles vaccines
are 97% effective in preventing measles. I recommend that our
Illinois residents make sure that they and their family members are
up to date on the measles/mumps/rubella vaccine and all other
age-appropriate immunizations.”
“Vaccination is the most effective
tool we have to prevent the spread of measles and protect the health
of our students,” said State Superintendent of Education Dr. Tony
Sanders. “We are grateful to IDPH for equipping school leaders,
parents, and the public with clear, actionable data to assess
measles risk and plan proactively. I encourage every school
administrator to explore this resource to support families in
staying informed and up to date on vaccinations.”
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The dashboard
provides predictions, projections and estimates for the size and
spread of a measles outbreak in individual Illinois schools from
Pre-K through 12th grade using 2023-2024 school vaccination and
enrollment data and additional model parameters. The dashboard
will be updated with the 2024-25 school year data as soon as
that becomes available in the near future.
School administrators and staff are encouraged to use this
dashboard to aid their decisions around measles outbreak
prevention and control in their individual schools. This
simulator was inspired by the University of Texas, Austin,
epiEngage Measles Outbreak Simulator.
Most Illinois residents received the measles vaccine in
childhood, which provides strong, long-lasting protection. This
means the risk of getting measles is very low for the vast
majority of people.
According to the CDC, one dose of measles/mumps/rubella (MMR)
vaccine is 93% effective against measles and two doses are 97%
effective in protection from measles. However, for those who are
not vaccinated, measles is more contagious than most other
infections. Measles is easily spread through the air when
someone coughs or sneezes. And measles can cause serious and
long-term complications, including pneumonia and swelling of the
brain.
IDPH stresses the importance of ensuring everyone in your family
is up to date on their immunizations. Since the COVID-19
pandemic, vaccination rates in the United States have dropped,
increasing the likelihood of more cases of vaccine-preventable
diseases. Individuals can protect themselves and their
communities by doing their part and ensuring their families are
up to date on all recommended vaccines.
[Text received from Illinois Dept. of
Public Health]
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