Emerging Issues
Stay Up-to-Date with Emerging Issues in Illinois
ICAAP is dedicated to keeping our pediatric health care provider community up-to-date on the latest issues affecting the health and well-being of children and families in Illinois. Refer to the updates and resources below to better support your response efforts.
To submit a media request or if you are media, please get in touch with us via email.
Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR)
H5N1 Updates
Blueprint for Pandemic Readiness
Respiratory Virus
Medicaid Redeterminations
Receive Important Communications
WEBINAR
Measles Update for Clinicians: Where We Are Now & What to Expect
Thursday, April 25, 2024
- The state of the measles outbreak in IL
- What to expect in the coming weeks and months
- Resources and what you can do now to support your patients and communities
Pediatric Medical Advisor
Illinois Department of Public Health
Alexander Sloboda, MD, MPH
Medical Director of Immunization & Emergency Preparedness Programs
Health Protection Bureau at Chicago Department of Public Health
Measles Updates & Resources
Updates on Measles in Illinois:
- April 19, 2024: Measles Community Transmission Alert & Recommendations
- April 5, 2024: Measles Update from CDPH
- March 26, 2024: IDPH Health Advisory
- March 18, 2024: CDC Health Advisory
- March 20, 2024: Measles Update for Clinicians Recognition, Reporting and Response Presentation Recording | Presentation Slides
- March 21, 2024 - Preventing, Reporting, Responding, & Managing Measles in Schools, Daycares and WIC Clinics Presentation Recording | Presentation Slides
- March 15, 2024: IDPH SIREN for Healthcare Facilities
- CDPH News Releases
- CDPH Measles Dashboard
Clinical/Educational Resources:
- AAP Redbook: 10-minute Diagnosing Measles in the Pediatric Setting Webinar
- CDC: Measles Outbreak Toolkit for Health Departments
- CDPH: Reporting and Testing Authorization Process CDPH Suspect Measles Report and Testing Request Form
- CDPH: CDPH Suspect Measles Report and Testing Request Form
- CHOP: Have You Ever Diagnosed Measles?
- AAP Project Firstline: Measles one-pager
- Red Book Online: Measles
- CDC: Measles Cases and Outbreaks Tracking
- National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID): Measles Page
- ICAAP: Tips for Reading International Vaccine Records
- IDPH: Measles Guidance for EMS
- IDPH: Measles Clinical Practice Advisory for Perinatal Providers
For Families and Caregivers
- ICAAP handouts: What You Should Know About Measles During an Outbreak: English and Spanish
- Lurie Children's webpage: Measles in Chicago
- CDPH handout: FAQs in English/Spanish
- CDC: Educational Resources for Parents and Childcare Providers
- Top 4 Things Parents Need to Know about Measles: English, Spanish
- Measles and the Vaccine (Shot) to Prevent It: English, Spanish
- Healthychildren.org: How to Protect Your Children During a Measles Outbreak and Protecting Your Baby From a Measles Outbreak FAQ
Avian Influenza A (H5N1) Virus Updates
A person in the United States has tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1) virus (“H5N1 bird flu”), as reported by Texas and confirmed by CDC. This person had exposure to dairy cattle in Texas presumed to be infected with HPAI A(H5N1) viruses. The patient reported eye redness (consistent with conjunctivitis), as their only symptom, and is recovering. The patient was told to isolate and is being treated with an antiviral drug for flu. This infection does not change the H5N1 bird flu human health risk assessment for the U.S. general public, which CDC considers to be low. However, people with close or prolonged, unprotected exposures to infected birds or other animals (including livestock), or environments contaminated by infected birds or other animals, are at greater risk of infection. CDC has interim recommendations for prevention, monitoring, and public health investigations of HPAI A(H5N1) viruses.
Emerging Updates & Resources
- CDC press release: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Virus Infection Reported in a Person
- Current US Bird Flu CDC Situation
- CDC guidance: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Virus in Animals: Interim Recommendations
- CDC recommendations: For clinicians
- USDA, FDA and CDC: Update on HPAI Detections in Dairy Cattle
- AAP Healthy Families Avian Flu: Facts for Families
- National Pediatric Disaster Coalition Updates
Blueprint for Pediatric-Specific Readiness in Pandemics & Disasters
This must-read report provides recommendations on how to ensure children’s physical and mental health care needs are considered in planning for pandemics, disasters and public health emergencies. Children have unique physical, mental and social needs that differ from adults, and there are opportunities to ensure these considerations are included in future pandemic and disaster planning. The recommendations in the blueprint report incorporate the results of a May 2023 online survey developed in partnership with FTI Consulting and completed by over 40 CHA members and Pediatric Pandemic Network (PPN) participants. The report also includes documented insights from a range of experts working in pediatric medicine, pediatric disaster response, pharmacy and supply chain issues and more.
2023/2024 Respiratory Virus Season
Nearing the End of Respiratory Virus Season and Changes for the 2024/2025 Season
- February 9, 2024: Presentation Recording | Presentation Slides
Medicaid Redeterminations
Medicaid redeterminations are likely to result in many children and families losing coverage. Actions now and throughout the unwinding period will help to mitigate these coverage losses.
IL-Template Letter for Patients & Families Who Receive Medicaid
Receive Important Communications
Self-register for SIREN (State of Illinois Rapid Electronic Notification) to receive important notifications from IDPH. Select IDPH and then you can select your hospital or the Illinois Chapter which is listed under “DPH Partners”.
Sign up for alerts from the CDC Emergency Preparedness and Responses.
Updates on Medicaid and coverage for children can be found on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) website.
Self-register for the Chicago Department of Public Health's Health Alert Network (HAN).