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State and county officials Friday warned of possible exposure to measles at a Macomb County hotel and an Oakland County hospital’s emergency room.
Officials with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and the Macomb County Health Department said they identified a case of measles in a Macomb County child. The case is the state’s sixth since the year began.
They said the child was diagnosed on July 3 and are investigating how the child was exposed to the virus.
Furthermore, officials said others who came into contact with the child from June 24 through July 2 may be been exposed to the measles and urge them to watch for symptoms.
They said people may have been exposed when the child was at the Motel 6 at 8300 Chicago Road in Warren on July 26 or at the Children’s Hospital of Michigan’s Emergency Room at 350 West Big Beaver Road in Troy from 1:30-4 p.m. on June 30.
State officials said they are conducting contact tracing to identify other exposure sites. They also said they have notified staff at the motel and the hospital. Local health departments are monitoring their health, they said.
Measles is an infectious respiratory illness that spreads through coughing and sneezing. Symptoms include a rash, fever, cough, runny nose and red eyes. An infection can be serious, leading to pneumonia or inflammation of the brain.
“Preventing measles is simple — all residents should get vaccinated to prevent this disease,” Natasha Bagdasarian, chief medical executive for the state’s Department of Health and Human Services, said in a statement. “Vaccination can prevent illness and provide peace of mind in case you or your family member is exposed.
“As we get ready for back-to-school season, now is a great time to check with your healthcare provider to make sure you are current with all your vaccines,” she said.