A recent report from the Centers for Disease Control has linked 84 percent of recent cases of measles in Chicago to illegal aliens from Venezuela. According to the report, the majority of cases were found in unvaccinated illegal aliens from Venezuela, with a single migrant boy being traced as the source of the outbreak. In addition to cases from Venezuela, the CDC also identified cases linked to individuals from Peru and Chile.
The outbreak primarily affected a migrant shelter in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood, with health authorities identifying 57 cases among migrants living in the shelter. Most of the affected migrants were from Venezuela, but there were also cases linked to individuals from Peru, Ecuador, Chile, and one unidentified origin. The shelter has housed approximately 2,100 people since February.
As of May 16, a total of 139 measles cases have been reported in 21 U.S. states, with the majority of cases concentrated in Illinois, particularly the Chicago area. Despite the connection to migrants, the City of Chicago health commissioner assured residents that there is no fear of a wider outbreak.
However, Chicago Alderman Raymond Lopez criticized the city for the outbreak among migrant shelters, suggesting that it could have been avoided if vaccination standards had been implemented for all migrants. Lopez expressed concerns about the risk posed to communities by unvaccinated migrants, particularly children in schools.
Overall, the outbreak in Chicago serves as a reminder of the importance of vaccination and public health measures in preventing the spread of contagious diseases like measles.
