Health Officials Confirm Measles Case in Oakland County, Set Vaccination Hours

The Oakland County Health Division announced today that the Michigan Department of Community Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have confirmed a measles case in an adult Oakland County resident.

This case may be associated with the recent Disneyland outbreak in California, but an exact connection has not yet been determined, the Health Division said in a news release.

Measles is a highly contagious disease and can be transmitted five days before and four days after the rash appears.

Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson has authorized OCHD to open their Nurse on Call Hotline and clinic in Pontiac, 1200 N Telegraph Road, Building 34 East, from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. on Saturday, January 24 and Sunday, January 25 to offer the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccine. Residents can call or e-mail Nurse on Call at 800-848-5533 and noc@oakgov.com today until 8pm and on Saturday andSunday from 11am – 3pm with any questions.

“We are encouraging anyone who is not vaccinated to consult their doctor immediately and get vaccinated as soon as possible, said Kathy Forzley, OCHD manager / health officer. “ The vaccine is very effective, but if you have had only one dose of the MMR vaccine, we are also urging you to get the second dose as well.”

Measles is a vaccine preventable, respiratory infection that is highly contagious and is spread through the air by sneezing and coughing. The measles virus can live for up to two hours on a surface or in the air, where the infected person coughed or sneezed.

“If you have symptoms consistent with measles, please call your healthcare provider or Oakland County’s Nurse on Call. It is best to make contact by phone to prevent further possible measles cases,” said Forzley.

Measles symptoms usually begin 10-12 days after exposure and include:

• Hard, dry cough
• Sneezing or runny nose
• Watery or red eyes
• Rash that is red, raised, blotchy, starts on face and spreads to trunk, arms, and leg
• Fever which rises when rash appears (101o f or higher)

OCHD accepts health insurance, as well as Medicaid, Medicare, Vaccines for Children (VFC) program, cash, and credit. The MMR vaccine cost $56 per dose. VFC offers vaccines at no cost for eligible children.

For up-to-date public health information, visit www.oakgov.com/health or find Public Health Oakland on Facebook and Twitter @publichealthOC.

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Photo via Centers for Disease Control and Prevention