This article appeared on WLNS. Read more here.
Cases of measles have been reported in east Michigan, Ohio, and northern Indiana.
On Sunday, March 3, 2024, Health officials in Wayne County Identified Michigan’s second confirmed measles case, and on the same day, Washtenaw county reported the third. The first case in Michigan after 5 years without any cases was reported in Oakland County in late February.
It has even prompted health warnings in Hillsdale County.
“With Indiana and Ohio kind of being on our borders we are a little more concerned about a potential outbreak,” said Heidi Hazel, the Personal Health and Disease Prevention Director for Hillsdale, Branch, and St. Joseph County Community Health. “It’s very concerning, measles cases anywhere can pose a risk especially in a community that’s under-vaccinated. which we have kind of become with a lot of vaccine hesitancy.”
Cases have been reported in more than a dozen states in recent weeks. Hazel says, to be on the lookout for symptoms, which normally appear seven to 14 days after contact with the highly contagious virus.
“Usually begin with a high fever, red eyes, cough, runny nose, it can then be followed by a red raised rash, usually starts on the head then travels to the rest of the body. Some patients complain of light sensitivity, painful eyes, and it can ultimately lead to death,” says Hazel, “The best defense for measles is actually the vaccine.”
Hazel says Measles, Mumps, and Rubella vaccinations are proven to be 93-percent effective against the listed diseases.
According to Michigan Health Officials the MMR vaccine coverage across the state has dropped nearly 10 percent since the Covid pandemic. When we started seeing increased hesitancy toward vaccinations.
In Michigan, you’re not even allowed to send your kid to school if they haven’t been treated. Normally, children will receive their first dose at 12-to-15 months-old followed by a second dose around 4 to 6 years-old.
If you’re unsure about your vaccine status, contact your local health department or go online to mcir.org to find your records.
“By doing so, you’re not only preventing yourself, your loved ones, and others around you, but also unvaccinated children, unvaccinated pregnant women, and anyone who could be immunocompromised.” says, Hazel.