In a recent major outbreak of measles in a migrant center in Chicago, a new report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has found that 84 percent of the deadly cases are connected to Venezuelan immigrants. The outbreak, which occurred at the Pilsen migrant shelter, saw a total of 57 cases, with the majority of them being among unvaccinated individuals.

The report highlights that the outbreak can be traced back to a one-year-old boy who had only received one of the two essential measles vaccines. The CDC notes that the measles cases at the shelter were primarily influenced by overcrowded conditions, as approximately 500 people were cramped into a single room.

Chicago has become the epicenter of the measles outbreak in the United States, with a total of 64 cases recorded to date. The Pilsen neighborhood, where the migrant shelter is located, has also witnessed an outbreak of tuberculosis along with measles.

The first patient involved in the outbreak had arrived in the US less than five months before falling ill. Although he had received one dose of the MMR vaccine five weeks prior, he had no recent travel history or known exposure to measles. The Chicago Department of Public Health organized a vaccination event for the residents and staff members of the shelter, as anyone who had been inside the shelter between February 22-27 was considered to have been exposed.

From February 26 to May 13, there were 57 confirmed measles cases linked to the shelter, with the infected migrants primarily originating from Venezuela. The median age of those affected was three years old. Apart from Venezuela, four cases were from Peru, two from Ecuador, and one from Chile.

It is worth noting that since August 2022, around 41,000 migrants have arrived in Chicago from the US southern border, with approximately 88 percent of them coming from Venezuela. The country has experienced a decline in routine child vaccination coverage, including the measles vaccine.

The rise in measles cases among migrants in Chicago has raised concerns about falling vaccination rates and the vulnerability of America's children to the disease. The CDC emphasizes the importance of timely vaccination, with infants recommended to receive their first dose of the measles vaccine between 12 to 15 months of age and the second dose between four to six years old.

While vaccinated individuals can still get sick, their infections tend to be milder due to preexisting immunity. Overcrowding, unsanitary conditions, and limited access to vaccines in migrants' native countries can contribute to or worsen outbreaks in shelters, according to experts.

Measles was declared eliminated in the US in 2000, but recent outbreaks among under-vaccinated communities have posed a threat to the country's elimination status. The CDC has reported a drop in MMR vaccine coverage, leaving roughly a quarter of a million kindergartners at risk of measles infection across the US.

As authorities work to contain and manage the outbreak, efforts to improve vaccination rates and address overcrowding and unsanitary conditions are crucial in preventing further spread of the disease.