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Making sure you are up-to-date on your vaccinations is the best way to protect yourself against an uptick in the report of measles this year in Michigan.
MDHHS has confirmed two additional cases of measles in Michigan for 2018. That brings the total to four this year as of July; Michigan only had two reported measles cases all of last year.
Neither of the two recent cases, which involved residents of Oakland and Washtenaw counties, were related to the two previous cases this year, but all four were the result of exposure outside of the country. This highlights the risk of contracting measles during international travel and the need for vaccination.
“Measles is easily spread, and these cases emphasize the importance of being up-to-date on all vaccinations for everyone’s protection,” said Dr. Eden Wells, MDHHS’s chief medical executive. “The bottom line is immunizations are the best way to protect our families and communities from the harmful, sometimes deadly consequences of vaccine-preventable diseases like measles.”
Measles is a vaccine-preventable respiratory infection that can result in hospitalization, pneumonia, encephalitis and death. The illness begins with a high fever, red eyes, cough, runny nose, and is followed by a red, raised body rash starting on the head and face that then spreads to the rest of the body. Measles patients often experience eye pain and sensitivity to light. Cases can be contagious a few days before the rash appears, which increases the possibility of unknowingly exposing others.
Symptoms can appear 21 days after the possible exposure. If symptoms appear, contact your health care provider promptly.
From 2001-2012, the average number of measles cases reported nationally per year was about 60 but it has increased in recent years. In 2017, there were 118 cases in the U.S. including two cases in Michigan; the majority of people who got measles were not vaccinated.
To help parents protect their children from serious vaccine-preventable diseases, MDHHS has partnered with the Franny Strong Foundation in launching the I Vaccinate campaign. I Vaccinate provides vaccination facts for parents to make informed decisions about vaccinations. For more information, visit IVaccinate.org.
