Michigan Reports First Confirmed Case of Measles in 2024: Health Leaders Urge Vaccination Check
Michigan health officials are urging residents to check their vaccination status following the confirmation of the state’s first measles case in 2024. The infected individual is a child from Oakland County who had not been vaccinated and had recently traveled internationally. Dr. Russell Faust, the medical director of the Oakland County Health Division, emphasized the importance of vaccination, stating that it would be “extremely unusual” for a vaccinated person to contract the measles.
The measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine provides high levels of protection against the illness. One dose offers up to 93% protection, while two doses provide 97% protection, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). With spring break approaching, health officials are urging individuals to ensure they are vaccinated before traveling, especially internationally. They also advised practicing good hand hygiene and wearing masks while traveling on planes, taxis, or buses.
The MMR vaccine is available at the Oakland County Health Division’s north and south clinics in Pontiac and Southfield. Residents do not need to live in Oakland County to be eligible for vaccinations at these clinics. Children can often receive the MMR vaccine at no cost, while adults may have to pay an administration fee ranging from $7 to $76 per dose, depending on insurance coverage.
Measles symptoms typically appear seven to 14 days after exposure and can include fever, cough, runny nose, red watery eyes, and a red rash that starts on the face and spreads to the torso, arms, and legs. The virus is highly contagious, and infected individuals can transmit it from four days before the rash appears to four days after.
Measles can be particularly dangerous for unvaccinated children, individuals over 65 years old, and those with compromised immune systems. Approximately 1 in 20 children with measles develops pneumonia, which is the most common cause of death from the disease in young children. The CDC reports that 1 or 2 out of every 1,000 children who contract measles die from it. Measles can also lead to complications such as ear infections, diarrhea, pneumonia, and encephalitis (swelling of the brain), which can cause convulsions, deafness, or intellectual disability.
Dr. Faust highlighted the significance of measles vaccination, especially for children and older adults. He emphasized that measles can cause pneumonia in adults and lead to brain swelling and infection in children, potentially resulting in permanent deafness or even death. Measles infection during pregnancy can also lead to premature birth, low birth weight, and fetal death.
If individuals suspect they or their child have measles, it is important to call their healthcare provider before visiting a doctor’s office. Dr. Faust advised against bringing an infected child into a waiting room full of other children who may be unvaccinated or undervaccinated. The measles virus is highly transmissible, and virus particles can remain in the air or on surfaces for hours.
While measles was considered eliminated in the U.S. in 2000, a few cases still occur each year. In 2023, the CDC reported 58 cases, and in 2022, there were 121 cases. These cases primarily affect unvaccinated or undervaccinated individuals. To achieve herd immunity against measles, an estimated 95% of the population must be vaccinated.
Michigan’s recent case comes amid a rise in measles infections in other parts of the U.S., along with a drop in immunization coverage. So far this year, 35 measles cases have been reported in 15 states. The largest outbreak since the elimination of measles in the U.S. occurred in 2019 when there were 1,274 cases in 31 states.
The CDC recommends that children receive the MMR vaccine at 12-15 months old, with a booster dose between ages 4 and 6. Anyone born after 1957 without evidence of immunity or documentation of two doses of the MMR vaccine should also receive the vaccine. People exposed to measles who cannot provide evidence of immunity should receive post-exposure prophylaxis within 72 hours of exposure.
Dr. Faust noted that the recommendations have been updated to encourage even those born before 1957 to get vaccinated. Additionally, individuals born between 1963 and 1967 who do not have documentation of their vaccine type should be revaccinated. It is important for people around immunocompromised individuals to be fully vaccinated to protect them.
The politicization of COVID-19 and its vaccines has led to increased vaccine hesitancy, affecting other vaccine-preventable diseases like measles. Health officials stress the importance of vaccination and urge individuals to take proactive measures to protect themselves and their communities.
Contact Kristen Shamus: [email protected]. Subscribe to the Free Press
