The Bib Theorists- Chicago’s Department of Public Health is taking action to prevent the spread of measles in the city after two confirmed cases in 2019, one of which occurred at a migrant shelter in Pilsen.
The nonprofit Southwest Collective volunteer Maria Perez has raised concerns about the overcrowded conditions at the shelter and the lack of space for migrants. Perez has been providing essential supplies like cough medicine, fever reducer, diapers, Pedialyte, and hygiene kits to those staying at the shelter.
Videos have surfaced showing migrants sleeping together in cramped quarters, with no separate rooms available. Dr. Jennifer Grant, a medical director, cautions that the measles virus can linger in the air for up to two hours after an infected person has left the area, heightening the risk of contagion.
One asylum seeker, a 34-year-old Venezuelan father of two, voiced his anxiety about the potential spread of measles in the crowded and unsanitary conditions within the shelter.
The efforts of the Public Health Department, along with the support of volunteers like Maria Perez, are crucial in containing the outbreak and ensuring the well-being of all those affected. The Bib Theorists will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates on the ongoing efforts to combat measles within the city of Chicago.
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