More Measles Exposures Tied To Chicago Union Station, Hotel

CHICAGO—Additional measles exposures have been tied to Chicago’s Union Station, 255 S. Canal St. The Chicago Department of Public Health originally alerted commuters that an out-of-state unvaccinated domestic traveler had passed through the train station last month.

The first exposure occurred between 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 27, through Saturday, Aug. 28. Since then, four more measles exposures have been reported at Union Station and a hotel, including:

Source: Chicago Department of Public Health

Meanwhile, individuals who never received the MMR vaccine that protects against three serious viral diseases, including measles, mumps, and rubella, may want to consider getting vaccinated.

• Symptoms include rash, high fever, cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes. After exposure to someone with measles, symptoms can take from 7 to 21 days to show up.

• People who develop symptoms of measles should stay home and away from others.
• Contact a health care provider by phone BEFORE going to a medical office or emergency department, unless you are experiencing a medical emergency. Special arrangements can be made for your evaluation while also protecting other patients and medical staff from possible infection.

Across the United States, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports 3,134 confirmed cases, surpassing the full-year 2025 total of 2,289 cases.

Around 8 percent of total patients (248 individuals) have required hospitalization. The CDC also reports that approximately 94 percent of infected individuals are unvaccinated or have an unknown vaccination status; only about 3 percent have received two doses of the MMR vaccine.

Adults born before 1957 are generally considered naturally immune to measles because they lived through widespread exposure before the vaccine existed.

However, if you fall within one of these groups, you may want to consider getting another MMR dose, according to the CDC.

• No record of immunity: Adults born in 1957 or later who have no documentation of receiving the MMR vaccine or lab proof of immunity should get at least one dose.
• High-risk settings: You may need a second dose if you are a healthcare worker, an international traveler, a student at a post-high school college or university, or live close to an immunocompromised person.
• Vaccinated before 1968: Anyone who received a measles vaccine prior to 1968 using an inactivated (killed) vaccine or an unknown type should get revaccinated with a live MMR dose.