Wayne and Washtenaw counties report measles cases

Wayne and Washtenaw counties each announced cases of measles Sunday, adding to an Oakland County case last month in a child.

Washtenaw County's health department said in a news release Sunday that a measles case was reported Friday at Trinity Health Ann Arbor Emergency Department in Ypsilanti.

Anyone in the triage and waiting areas of the Trinity Health Ann Arbor Emergency Department from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. may have been exposed. Anyone present at the time should receive 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.

People with two appropriately spaced doses of measles vaccine are considered immune. Adults born before 1957 or who have evidence of prior measles illness also are considered immune, Washtenaw County's health department said.

The case involves an adult with recent international travel, said Susan Ringler Cerniglia, the county Health Department Public Information officer. Ringler Cerniglia said there is no known connection to either the Oakland or Wayne county cases.

The Wayne County case is related to an adult from the county who traveled internationally, the county health department said in a release Sunday. The release said the person is following isolation protocols but did not indicate when the case was reported.

The first measles case in the state since 2019 was confirmed Feb. 23 in an Oakland County child.

"Measles is highly contagious and spreads easily though the air,” said Dr. Juan Luis Marquez, medical director with Washtenaw County Health Department, in the release. “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.”

Wayne County Public Health said it's working closely with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to identify anyone who might have been exposed to its case. Possible contacts of the individual are being notified by the health department.

The Wayne County department is asking that 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

The disease is caused by a virus that spreads easily when an infected person breathes, coughs or sneezes, according to the World Health Organization. Although measles can affect anyone, it is most common in children, the agency said.

Washtenaw County Health Department said symptoms typically begin 7-14 days after exposure, but can appear up to 21 days after. Symptoms include high fever; cough; runny nose; tiny white spots on the inner cheeks, gums and roof of the mouth two to three days after symptoms begin; and a rash that appears three to five days after the first symptoms, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

News of the measles cases in Michigan comes amid a decline in routine immunizations across the country. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services reported that coverage for the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine for children 4-6 years old decreased from 89.4% in 2017 to 84% in 2022.

The Washtenaw County Health Department said for children 19-35 months of age, coverage of the vaccine has decreased from 90% in 2017 to 81% in 2022. The state health department recommends the vaccine for ages 1 year and older.

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