Shannon Halligan and Andrew Smith
14 hours in the past
CHICAGO — A Chicago mom is sharing her story after her son, who’s vaccinated, battled the measles virus.
For 5 days, Jessica Coletti’s three-year-old son battled fevers over 105 levels.
15 instances of measles reported to date in Chicago in 2024
“I do know for our particular case, for my son, I’ve by no means seen him sicker,” Coletti stated. “I had by no means been extra fearful, or scared, or drained. From combating fevers for 5 days and simply attempting to determine tips on how to get him higher and I felt like I couldn’t get him higher.”
Coletti stated his signs began round March 7.
“I used to be shocked, actually, didn’t suppose that that may occur to us,” Coletti stated. “We weren’t by the 12 instances they usually nonetheless can’t hyperlink us to the 12 instances. Now I believe it’s 15 however I virtually couldn’t consider it.”
What was much more shocking was her son was vaccinated in opposition to the illness.
“All of his vaccines are updated,” she stated. “He had his MMR at 1 after which he wouldn’t be due for the second dose till he was 4, and he’s solely three.”
Coletti stated the town has been in touch with their household however they don’t seem to be included in neighborhood publicity areas listed on the web site.
She’s fearful others had been uncovered unknowingly, identical to her household was.
“I simply suppose triage nurses weren’t ready at the moment we went within the hospital to search for these signs or know what these signs had been and that’s the scary half,” she stated. “I believe now all people’s just a little bit extra ready, however as of that Monday, I don’t suppose anyone thought that these instances had been going to begin coming in like they had been.
As of Wednesday, the Chicago Division of Public Well being reported 15 instances of measles within the metropolis to date this month.
However Coletti needs others to be looking out that this might occur, even when individuals are vaccinated.
“It’s for different mother and father to remember that it may occur to you, you’ll be able to choose it up anyplace,” she stated. “The signs will mimic different issues and that rash will let .”
Now, she’s fearful about her 10-month-old daughter who can also be very sick and isolating.
However in her case, she’s nonetheless too younger to get vaccinated.
“She’s not vaccinated for the MMR as a result of she’s too younger and that could possibly be a special case than my son’s case was and it’s up within the air what’s going to occur,” she stated.