Measles in Michigan: Three counties with confirmed cases
- Three counties in Michigan have reported cases of measles
- Health officials are encouraging residents to get vaccinated to protect themselves against the virus
- Cases of the measles have been on the rise around the country
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is urging residents to get vaccinated for measles after at least three confirmed cases in the state.
“Now measles is in Michigan, and it’s important to make sure you protect yourself from this vaccine-preventable disease,” said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, MDHHS chief medical executive, in a press statement.
Residents can contact their health-care provider or local health department for information on getting vaccinated, MDHHS said. In addition, eligible children may be able to get vaccinated at no cost through the Vaccines for Children program, administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Wayne County Public Health and the Washtenaw County Health Department reported the latest cases on Sunday. Those reports came after MDHHS confirmed a case in Oakland County on February 23. It was the first confirmed case of measles in the state since 2019. The Oakland County child contracted the virus from international travel, according to the MDHHS.
The Wayne County resident also contracted the virus from international travel, Wayne County Public Health said in a statement.
The county is warning individuals who visited the following locations to contact the health department to receive post-exposure treatment:
- WellStreet/Beaumont Urgent Care at 23100 Michigan Ave in Dearborn on Tuesday, February 27 between 2 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
- CVS Pharmacy 2701 S. Telegraph Rd in Dearborn on February 27 between 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
- Henry Ford GoHealth Urgent Care at 26763 Ford Rd in Dearborn Heights on Thursday, February 29, between 11:30 a.m. and 4 p.m.
- Corewell Emergency Department at 18101 Oakwood Blvd in Dearborn on February 29th between 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Related:
- Michigan has first measles case since 2019 as cases climb nationwide
- Michigan kindergarten vaccinations plunge. What’s the rate in your school?
- One little girl’s death and Michigan’s falling childhood vaccination rates
Washtenaw County also reported a case on Sunday and is warning people who visited an Ypsilanti hospital on Friday that they may have been exposed to the virus.
The Washtenaw County Health Department says people who visited the Trinity Health Ann Arbor Emergency Department’s waiting and triage areas on Friday between 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. could have been exposed.
“We are seeing increased cases of measles abroad and outbreaks of measles across the United States in the setting of declining childhood vaccination rates,” said Dr. Bagdasarian.
Measles is a respiratory virus that can cause a high fever of 104 degrees Fahrenheit, cough, coryza and conjunctivitis (red, watery eyes) followed by a maculopapular rash which can appear 14 days after exposure, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Other symptoms include a runny nose and tiny white spots called Koplik spots on the inner cheek, gums, and roof of the mouth. These symptoms can occur within 2 or 3 days of exposure.
Measles is spread from direct contact with an infected person and can live in the air for up to two hours.
The MDHHS says the Measles, Mumps and Rubella, or MMR, vaccine is effective in preventing illness if administered within 72 hours of exposure.
Adults born before 1957, who may have evidence of prior measles illness, and people who had two spaced doses of the measles vaccine are considered immune. One dose of the vaccine has been proven to be 93% effective at preventing measles, and two doses can be 97% effective, according to the MDHHS.
Nearly 9 in 10 people who are exposed to the virus will also be infected if they aren’t already immune to it, according to a report by the National Foundation for Infectious Disease. About 1 in 5 people who get measles and aren’t vaccinated will be hospitalized.
Cases of measles have not only increased in Michigan but across the country this year.
As of Thursday, 41 cases of the virus had been reported in 16 states, according to the CDC. There were 58 cases reported in 20 states in 2023.
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