KMOX (ST. LOUIS) - The Center for Disease Control sent a team of specialists to Chicago to help fight the city's measles outbreak.
Most of the cases -- which are highly contagious in the unvaccinated -- were diagnosed in Pilsen, a migrant shelter. There are 12 cases total, and two are Chicago Public School students.
Dr. Alexander Garza is the Chief Community Health Officer for SSM Health.
"If you have a majority of the people [vaccinated], you know, it's that herd immunity effect where the transmission is going to stop because it's got nowhere to go," Dr. Garza said. "But if there is a segment of the population that is not vaccinated, then it does have somewhere to go."
Dr. Garza said since there's been a lack of people getting vaccinated, numbers like this start to increase.
"It's unfortunate because, you know, measles vaccine is extremely effective. But with vaccine hesitancy there's just more opportunity to spread," Dr. Garza said.
KMOX asked Dr. Garza how worried we should be about the measles spreading here.
"So if you've been vaccinated and kept up to date on all your vaccines, you should no reason to be worried at all," Dr. Garza said.
Reports say around 100 migrants have been taken to a Chicago-area hotel to quarantine. The students are also in quarantine. The Illinois Department of Human Services say people will stay at the hotel for at least 21 days.