3 MI Counties Report Measles Cases

SOUTHEASTERN MICHIGAN — Health officials in Washtenaw and Wayne counties each announced measles cases Sunday, nearly two weeks after Michigan health officials confirmed the state's first measles case since 2019 in Oakland County.

Washtenaw County health officials said the case was reported Friday at the Trinity Health Ann Arbor Emergency Department. Officials believe the case is linked to international travel.

Anyone who was present at the facility's waiting areas from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. should get the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine within 72 hours, or no later than Monday, if they are not already considered immune to measles. Anyone potentially exposed should monitor themselves for symptoms for 21 days.

"Measles is highly contagious and spreads easily through the air," Medical Director with Washtenaw County Health Department Dr. Juan Luis Marquez said. "This means we need to alert people who may have been present to the possibility of exposure, especially because anyone not vaccinated is likely to become ill if exposed."

The Wayne County case is also related to international travel, though officials did not say when the case was reported. The adult is following isolation protocols, according to the Wayne County Department of Health.

Wayne County health officials asked anyone present at the following locations and times, and who has not been fully vaccinated for measles, to email PHECC@waynecounty.com with their name, phone number and address.

• WellStreet/Beaumont Urgent Care at 23100 Michigan Ave. in Dearborn from 2-5:30 p.m. Tuesday
• CVS Pharmacy at 2701 South Telegraph Road in Dearborn from 4-6:30 p.m. Tuesday
• Henry Ford GoHealth Urgent Care at 26763 Ford Road in Dearborn Heights from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday
• Corewell Emergency Department at 18101 Oakwood Blvd. in Dearborn from 3-8 p.m. Thursday

"Vaccination is the single best way to protect yourself, your family and the people you spend your days with," Wayne County Health Officer Dr. Abdul El-Sayed said. "Given the growing risk of measles because of outbreaks in Europe and elsewhere, we highly recommend you verify your and your family’s vaccination status immediately — and get vaccinated if you or they have not been."

The cases come after Michigan health officials confirmed an Oakland County child, who was also linked to international travel, caught the virus, which is highly contagious and can live for up to two hours in the air. Officials do not believe any of the cases are connected to each other.

The news comes after federal officials said routine childhood vaccine exemptions in Michigan, as well as 40 other states, have reached an all-time high. Data also shows a declining rate for measles vaccinations for Michigan kindergarteners, as coverage for the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine for children 4-6 years old decreased from 89.4 percent in 2017 to 84 percent in 2022.

Symptoms of measles usually begin within seven to 14 days after exposure and can appear up to 21 days after exposure. They include a high fever, cough, runny nose, red and watery eyes, tiny white spots on the inner cheeks and rashes, officials said.

The measles vaccine is highly effective and very safe. A single dose of measles vaccine is about 93 percent effective at preventing measles, while two doses are about 97 percent effective. It is also effective if used within 72 hours of a measles exposure to prevent illness.