Measles was diagnosed in a relative of a graduating student who attended the graduation ceremony at 1:30 p.m. on May 14 in the Convocation Center.

The relative also stayed in the Holmes Student Center hotel May 13-15 and attended a College of Business reception May 14 in the Barsema Hall atrium, according to an NIU Public Health notice.

Measles is a highly contagious disease spread through the air and can live for up to two hours where an infected person coughs or sneezes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Complications that arise from measles include ear problems, diarrhea and brain damage, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health’s website.

The relative also went to two other places in DeKalb including Walmart, 2300 Sycamore Rd., and Panda Express, 1015 West Lincoln Hwy, on May 14 and went to the Chicago Essex Inn, 800 South Michigan, Chicago, on May 15-16, according to the department.

Symptoms include a rash that begins on the face and neck, fever, runny nose, cough and red, watery eyes. The fever and rash do not appear until at least 10 days after the infection begins, according to the department’s website.

People without the measles vaccination who might have been in contact with the patient should contact their healthcare provider if they experience symptoms, according to the notice.

For a list of local health departments provided by the Illinois Department of Public Health, go to bit.ly/25gbF1O.