Measles in 2026: the DuPage County case and what families should know
As of November 5, 2026, CDC counts 4,852 measles cases in the U.S. this year, and Illinois has confirmed 24, including one in DuPage County in October. Health officials say the local risk is low. Two doses of the MMR vaccine are about 97% effective at preventing measles.
Health news · reviewed by the clinical team at Urgent Care Center of WestmontUpdated November 5, 2026
CDC reported 4,852 confirmed U.S. measles cases in 2026 as of October 29, and 96% were linked to outbreaks.
Illinois has 24 confirmed measles cases in 2026, with one each in DuPage and Cook counties, as of November 5.
DuPage County's case was a vaccinated resident who had traveled abroad, a rare breakthrough infection.
Measles symptoms start 7 to 14 days after exposure with high fever, cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes.
If you think you have measles, call ahead before going to any clinic or emergency room.
Measles in 2026: the national picture
Measles has spread widely in the U.S. this year. The CDC measles case page, updated October 30, 2026, reports these numbers as of October 29:
4,852 confirmed cases in 2026. Of these, 4,834 were reported by 47 jurisdictions and 18 were among international visitors.
43 new outbreaks reported this year.
96% of cases (4,666) were linked to an outbreak.
Most U.S. cases this year have been in people who were not vaccinated or whose vaccine status was unknown. Measles spreads very easily, so outbreaks grow quickly in communities where many people have not had the MMR vaccine.
Measles in Illinois and DuPage County
The IDPH measles page (data last updated November 5, 2026) shows 24 confirmed Illinois cases this year, with no new cases in the past seven days, no hospitalizations and no deaths. Most came from an outbreak in Douglas and Moultrie counties in central Illinois.
Confirmed 2026 measles cases in Illinois by county (IDPH, November 5, 2026)
County
Cases
Douglas
11
Moultrie
5
Madison
3
Kane
2
Cook
1
DeKalb
1
DuPage
1
On October 21, 2026, the DuPage County Health Department confirmed the county's first 2026 case in a vaccinated resident who had recently returned from international travel. People at O'Hare Airport Terminal 5 on October 15, 2026, between 4:20 and 7:00 pm, were asked to watch for symptoms for 21 days. The department says the risk to the public is low, and IDPH says the risk to Illinoisans remains very low.
Statewide, 79% of 2026 Illinois cases were in people who were unvaccinated or whose status was unknown. Children ages 5 to 17 made up 42% of cases.
Measles symptoms and timeline
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Measles usually starts like a bad cold, then a rash follows. The CDC symptom guide describes this pattern:
7 to 14 days after exposureHigh fever, which can top 104°F, plus cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes.
2 to 3 days after symptoms startTiny white spots may appear inside the mouth.
3 to 5 days after symptoms startA flat red rash begins at the hairline and spreads down the neck, trunk, arms and legs. The fever may spike again.
Measles can lead to ear infections in about 1 in 10 children and pneumonia in up to 1 in 20 children. About 1 in 5 unvaccinated people in the U.S. who get measles are hospitalized, according to CDC. Other rashes are far more common, so see our guide to common causes of a sudden skin rash.
Who is most at risk from measles?
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Anyone who is not immune can catch measles. CDC says these groups are more likely to have serious problems:
Children younger than 5
Adults older than 20
Pregnant people
People with a weakened immune system
Babies too young for their first MMR dose
Vaccinated people can rarely get measles, as in the DuPage case. DuPage health officials note that vaccinated people usually have a milder illness and may be less likely to spread it.
MMR vaccine: check your family before holiday travel
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The CDC MMR guidance says one dose is about 93% effective against measles and two doses are about 97% effective.
Children: first dose at 12 to 15 months and second dose at 4 to 6 years.
Babies traveling abroad: infants 6 to 11 months should get one dose before international travel, then the usual two doses after age 1.
Adults traveling abroad: should be fully vaccinated, which for adults means two doses.
Born before 1957: adults are presumed to be immune.
Not sure about your records? DuPage health officials suggest checking with your doctor or school, or using the state's Illinois Vax Verify portal. Our clinics offer immunizations and travel medicine visits. Call (630) 324-6825 to confirm a vaccine is in stock.
What to do if you were exposed or have symptoms
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Call firstDo not walk into a waiting room. Call your clinic or the emergency room before you go so staff can protect other patients.
Report the exposureDuPage County residents can call the health department at (630) 682-7400. Other residents should call their local health department.
Ask about protection after exposureIDPH says unvaccinated people 6 months and older who were exposed may be able to get preventive treatment, which works better the sooner it is given.
Watch for 21 daysCheck for fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes and rash for 21 days after the exposure.
Urgent Care Center of Westmont, also known as Immediate Care Center of Westmont, is open 7 days a week in Westmont, IL, with a team led by board-certified physicians. If you have a fever and rash and may have been exposed, call (630) 324-6825 before coming in. For other illnesses, you can book online.
DuPage County confirmed one measles case on October 21, 2026, in a vaccinated resident who had traveled abroad. The exposure warning covered O'Hare Terminal 5 on October 15. As of November 5, IDPH reported no new Illinois cases in the past seven days. Health officials say the risk to the public is low.
Can you get measles if you are vaccinated?
Yes, but it is rare. Two MMR doses are about 97% effective, so a small number of vaccinated people can still get sick, usually after close exposure such as travel. DuPage health officials say vaccinated people who get measles usually have a milder illness and may be less likely to spread it.
How long after exposure do measles symptoms show up?
Symptoms usually begin 7 to 14 days after exposure, starting with a high fever, cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes. The rash appears 3 to 5 days after those first symptoms. Health departments ask exposed people to watch for symptoms for 21 days.
Should my baby get the MMR vaccine early before we travel?
If you are traveling outside the U.S., CDC recommends one MMR dose for infants 6 to 11 months before the trip. That early dose does not count toward the routine series, so your child still needs two more doses after the first birthday. Talk with your pediatrician or a travel medicine clinician well before you leave.
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