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With 5th most vaccine exemptions, Oakland measles outbreak ‘sadly, predicted’

With Michigan in the midst of its largest measles outbreak in nearly three decades, Abram Wagner isn’t surprised almost all of the cases have been reported in Oakland County.

State health officials this week reported the number of confirmed cases had risen to 34, the most since 1991. The breakdown: 33 cases in Oakland County and one in Wayne County.

Wagner, a professor in the department of epidemiology at the University of Michigan, cited a Baylor University study that showed Oakland County had a large population of unvaccinated kindergarten students.

“Scientists had predicted that Oakland County would be at high risk for a measles outbreak,” he said. “… Scientists from Baylor College of Medicine found that Oakland County had the fifth largest number of vaccination exemptions in the country. So this outbreak was, sadly, predicted.”

State and county health officials said the outbreak started March 13 when measles was confirmed in a traveler from Israel who had stopped in New York before coming to Michigan. The state’s outbreak is among several reported across the country, including in New York, California, Illinois, Texas and Washington.

State and county health officials say getting the MMR vaccine (for measles, mumps and rubella) is the best way to protect against measles, and they are ramping up efforts to persuade people to get the shot.

The Oakland County Health Division issued news releases and information sheets, with versions translated into Spanish, Arabic and Hebrew, and conducted special measles vaccine clinics at its Southfield office and at Young Israel of Oak Park.

More than 2,000 people had been vaccinated as of April 1, and efforts continue, said Leigh-Anne Stafford, health officer for the Oakland County Health Division.

“We are recommending everyone — no matter their age — to check their immunization status,” Stafford said. “Unvaccinated individuals need to get vaccinated.”

There are exceptions — including pregnant women and people with compromised immune systems — and people should consult the vaccine provider before getting the shot.

Also, you’re considered protected if you have written documentation of at least one dose of a measles-containing vaccine for preschool-age children and low-risk adults, or two doses for school-age children and high-risk adults, including college students, health care personnel, and international travelers.

Others who don’t need to be vaccinated are those with laboratory evidence of immunity, laboratory confirmation of measles or a birth date before 1957.

Diamond Wilford of Oak Park took her 1-year-old daughter, Tiffany, to a county health clinic in Southfield for vaccination last week.

Read the full story here.

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You’ve got questions. That’s a good thing.

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