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.
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Communicable Diseases
H5N1 Updates
Blueprint for Pandemic Readiness
Respiratory Virus Season
Medicaid Redeterminations
Receive Important Communications
RECENT UPDATES
- COVID-19 Vaccines: FDA has approved and authorized 2024–2025 Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines. CDC recommends for use of these vaccines in people ages 6 months and older. Effective immediately, 2023–2024 mRNA COVID-19 vaccines are no longer authorized. The 2023–2024 Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine remains authorized but is no longer available in the United States as all doses have expired. Read more here.
- August 28, 2024: CDPH Han Alert First West Nile virus Human Cases in Chicago
- August 27, 2024: CDC Alert of Oropuche cases in the U.S. and guidance for newborns who are exposed in utero
- August 13, 2024: CDC HAN Increase in Human Parvovirus B19 Activity in the United States
- July 19, 2024: CDC Emergency Use Instructions (EUI) for an antiviral called oseltamivir (generic Tamiflu) for treatment or PEP of pandemic influenza A viruses and novel influenza A viruses with pandemic potential.
- June 20, 2024: IDPH SIREN - DPH: Infection Control Providers - Illinois Disease Surveillance System Implementation Updates
- June 12, 2024: IDPH SIREN - Mycobacterium tuberculosis (mTB) submissions update and inclusion of susceptibility results with submitted isolates
- May 20, 2024: CDC Health Alert- Meningococcal Disease Cases Linked to Travel to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA): Ensure Pilgrims are Current on Meningococcal Vaccination
- May 13, 2024: IDPH SIREN - Amended Communicable Disease Code, 77 Ill. Administrative Code, Part 690 Control of Notifiable Diseases and Conditions Code amended
Measles Updates & Resources
Measles Infection Control Measures
Preventing the Spread of Measles in Healthcare Settings
As the measles remain on the rise domestically and around the globe, please be aware of the precautions your facility can take to limit the spread! Know the signs of measles so you can diagnose cases early and help patients quarantine properly; take proper patient isolation measures; follow cleaning protocol; and help educate other health care providers using our new infection control resources including:
Health Care Provider Cleaning Checklist
Maintaining the appropriate cleaning and disinfecting protocols before and after patient visits is one way to prevent the spread of measles in your facility. Use this checklist to keep you, your team, and your patients safe before, during, and after exams with patients presenting with measles symptoms.
4 Steps to Keeping Your team, Your Patients, and Yourself Safe from the Measles
Learn the symptoms of the measles, get tips on how to remotely triage suspected cases, get guidance on appropriate recommendations, and learn how to report cases to the correct parties for further investigation and source tracking with this easy reference guide.
Social Media Posts to Inspire Other Healthcare Providers
Help ensure other healthcare providers have the latest infection control information and the tools they need to diagnose, treat, and properly report cases of the measles in Illinois using our social media toolkit. Share important information on symptoms, cleaning protocol, patient prep, and more to help all Illinois providers keep our communities safe!
For Healthcare Providers
Updates on Measles in Illinois:
- May 30, 2024: Chicago measles outbreak officially contained
- May 16, 2024: MMWR Measles Outbreak Associated with Migrant Shelter
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
- Red Book Online: Measles
- CDC: Measles Cases and Outbreaks Tracking
- ICAAP: Tips for Reading International Vaccine Records
For Families and Caregivers
- ICAAP handouts:
- CDC: Educational Resources for Parents and Childcare Providers
- New! ICAAP letter to parents about routine immunizations: English
- 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
- July 3, 2024 - AAP News: 4th human case of bird flu reported; CDC to discuss outbreak on July 16 call with clinicians
- May 30, 2024 - CDC press release: Confirms Second Human H5 Bird Flu Case in Michigan
- 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.
2024/2025 Respiratory Virus Season
Check out our Tackling Respiratory Viruses page for the latest updates on flu, COVID-19, and RSV.
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/clinic or select IDPH > Select Organization > Expand DPH Partners List > Select DPH Pediatricians
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).