A close up of the measles virus. | Submitted photo
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) announced the largest measles outbreak to affect Illinois since 1990 is officially contained as no new cases have been reported for more than two incubation periods spanning 42 days.
A total of 67 measles cases were reported during the outbreak since March 7, officials said.
A vast majority of these cases were linked to a Chicago shelter for new arrivals, but cases were eventually reported in suburban Cook, DuPage, Lake and Will counties.
All cases were rapidly contained in all these other locations.
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“I applaud all of the public health, health care, emergency management and social service staffers who worked so diligently to cooperate across jurisdictional lines to contain this measles outbreak,” said IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra. “Public health is a team sport founded on partnership, and this was no better exemplified than during this recent outbreak. Vaccination remains our most effective tool to prevent future outbreaks. Please reach out to your primary care provider this summer to ensure that you are up to date on the MMR vaccine and all other routine immunizations.”
Throughout the outbreak, IDPH, the Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS), and Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) mobilized resources to support local public health partners and provided epidemiological support for county public health departments for Cook, DuPage, Lake and Will counties.
IDPH also expanded its laboratory capacity to expedite measles testing and provided results back faster than any commercial lab.
State and local partners convened educational and awareness sessions with clinicians, community leaders and school personnel which led to increased vaccinations, testing and rapid reporting of cases.
In addition, the state galvanized its public service sector through DHS to assist with contact tracing of those who had left the shelter system and re-organized mass events such as job fairs to minimize the risk of super-spreader events.
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Most residents of Chicago and Illinois were vaccinated for measles routinely in childhood and therefore were not at risk during the outbreak.
IDPH stresses the importance of ensuring everyone in your family is up to date on their immunizations.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccination rates in the United States have dropped, increasing the likelihood of more cases of vaccine-preventable diseases.
Individuals can protect themselves and their communities by doing their part and ensuring their families are up to date on all recommended vaccines.
Illinois has seen more tornadoes in 2026 than in any year on record.
Following several more tornadoes confirmed this week across the state, Illinois has recorded 143 tornadoes so far in 2026, beating the previous record of 142 tornadoes set in 2024. With reliable records dating back to 1950, Illinois averages just 54 tornadoes per year. But in recent years, the state has experienced many more:
2023: 121
2024: 142
2025: 126
2026: 143 and counting
Unlike 2024, when a record two-day tornado outbreak accounted for a large share of the year’s tornadoes, the activity in 2026 has been spread out across several months.
On Thursday, June 11, a tornado outbreak brought at least 21 confirmed tornadoes to northern Illinois and northwest Indiana, 13 of them in Illinois. Two tornadoes that day — in Streator, Illinois, and Hebron, Indiana — reached rare EF-3 intensity, with winds over 135 miles per hour. Numerous injuries were reported from the storms, but there were no fatalities.
Confirmed tornadoes from June 11:
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Long Point to Streator, IL: EF-3
Wenona/Osage Township, IL: EF-1
Graymont to Dwight, IL: EF-1
Lee, IL: EF-U
Harpster to Elliott, IL: EF-0
Pembroke Township (Leesville), IL: EF-U
St. John to Schererville, IN: EF-0
Paxton/Loda, IL: EF-1
Merrillville to Hobart, IN: EF-2
Ludlow, IL: EF-1
Cedar Lake, IN: EF-0
Schneider to Hebron, IN: EF-0
Watseka, IL: EF-0
Hebron to Kouts, IN: EF-3
Wellington/Prairie Green Township, IL: EF-1
Bartlett, IL: EF-1
Boswell to Atkinson, IN: EF-1
Ade to Mount Ayr, IN: EF-0
Naperville to Lisle, IL: EF-0
Hickory Hills to Garfield Ridge: EF-2
Morocco, IN: EF-0
Though most of the Chicago area dodged severe weather from storms this week, the National Weather Service confirmed a brief tornado touchdown Wednesday night in Lake County near Grayslake. The EF-0 tornado had estimated winds of 80 miles per hour and was on the ground for about a quarter-mile. Damage consisted of several downed or split trees and sporadic minor roof damage along a narrow corridor in the Saddlebrook Farms subdivision.
Four more tornadoes were confirmed Wednesday in western and central Illinois. NWS crews are still surveying damage in central Illinois, and more tornadoes may be added to the count in the coming days.
With 143 tornadoes so far this year, Illinois leads the nation in tornado count for the third time in the last four years — a remarkable statistic for a state not typically thought of as being in Tornado Alley.
The recent increase in tornado activity across Illinois and the Midwest fits research showing a shift in tornado-favorable environments away from parts of the traditional Plains Tornado Alley and farther east into the Midwest and South. Climate change is one likely factor, as warming temperatures are expected to make the Plains hotter and drier overall, shifting tornado ingredients eastward toward the Mississippi River.
BEECHER CITY, Ill. (WAND) – Farms were damaged in Effingham County Wednesday evening when a powerful storm swept through at around 8 p.m.
The McKay Farm in Beecher City was heavily damaged when the rapidly moving storm hit.
“Two buildings were totally destroyed,” Dan McKay told WAND News on Thursday. “We’ve got five grain bins and they’re all damaged.”
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The buildings collapsed onto farm equipment and a semi that were parked in the structures. A utility pole was snapped and ripped out of the ground.
In nearby Shumway, another farm was hit. A barn collapsed, with a grain bin being ripped apart and debris traveling several hundred feet through a nearby corn field. A house on the property was also damaged.
