Measles Outbreak In Southeast MI Grows, New Exposure Sites

YPSILANTI, MI — Health officials confirmed on Wednesday three more measles cases linked to an outbreak in Washtenaw County.

There are now seven confirmed measles cases in the county. The cases include four people aged 5-17, two adults and one child under 5, all of whom were unvaccinated.

All the cases are linked to an unvaccinated man who returned from Florida, where health officials believe the man contracted measles.

"As we’re seeing, measles spreads rapidly when people are unprotected by vaccination or prior illness," Washtenaw County Health Department Medical Director Juan Luis Marquez said. "We urge everyone who might have been exposed to follow public health guidance to protect others."

With the new confirmed cases, health officials added four new exposure sites, including:

• Crane Liberal Arts Building, in or around Classroom 241, Washtenaw Community College, Ann Arbor, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 17.
• Gunder Myron Building, in or around Classroom 332, Washtenaw Community College, Ann Arbor, 1 to 5 p.m. March 17.
• Kroger, 2010 Whittaker Road, Ypsilanti, 5 to 7:10 p.m. March 17.
• Trinity Health Ann Arbor Emergency room treatment areas (this does not include the waiting area), Ypsilanti, 1:45 to 7:28 p.m. March 21.

Other high-traffic exposure areas include:

• Sidetrack Bar and Grill on Cross Street, Ypsilanti, 7:45 p.m. to 1 a.m. on March 4-5.
• T-Mobile at 2044 Whittaker, Ypsilanti, 6 to 8:40 p.m. on March 5.
• Cricket Wireless on Ellsworth at the Roundtree Place Shopping Center, Ypsilanti, 6:55 p.m. to 8:55 p.m. on March 5.
• CVS Pharmacy at 1415 Michigan Avenue, Ypsilanti, 4 to 6:07 p.m. on March 6.
• Cricket Wireless on Ellsworth, Ypsilanti, 7 to 10 p.m. on March 6.
• The Ypsilanti Urgent Care on Michigan Avenue, Ypsilanti, 7:15 to 9:27 p.m. on March 7.
• The Canton Urgent Care on Ford Road, Canton, 4:30 to 7 p.m. on March 8.

Health officials ask anyone who was at the following locations during those times to watch for measles symptoms.

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.

If symptoms develop, residents are urged to not visit their doctor or emergency room unless they have called ahead so facilities can take precautions to prevent exposure to other people.

Health officials said a single dose of the MMR vaccine is roughly 93 percent effective at preventing measles; two doses are about 97 percent effective. The vaccine is also effective if given within 72 hours of exposure to help prevent illness.

According to the CDC, 91.6 percent of Michiganders in 2025 were vaccinated against measles, down from 92.1 percent the previous year.

"We advise anyone unvaccinated or not already immune to stay away from others for a full 21 days after a measles exposure," Marquez added.