- The number of confirmed measles cases in Michigan had climbed to eight as of Thursday
- With the latest case, measles has been confirmed in Washtenaw and Monroe counties
- Officials recommend infants in those counties receive the MMR vaccine, which protects against measles, at 6 months of age — six months earlier than previously recommended
Facing a growing outbreak of measles in southeast Michigan, state leaders are temporarily revising their recommendations for measles vaccines for infants in Washtenaw and Monroe counties.
Some children as young as 6 months should be vaccinated, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services announced Thursday evening — a recommendation in which children would receive the MMR vaccine, which also protects against mumps and rubella, at least six months earlier than previous guidance.
Those are children who:
- Live in Washtenaw, Monroe, Wayne, Oakland, Jackson, Livingston or Lenawee counties.
- Travel to Washtenaw and Monroe counties.
Infants ages 6 to 11 months of age who receive an accelerated first dose will require two additional doses of the MMR vaccine after 12 months of age to complete the series.
Monroe County, Michigan’s most southeastern county, confirmed the state’s eighth case of measles earlier in the day, following the seven measles cases in Washtenaw County.
Importantly, the Monroe County case could not be linked to the Washtenaw County cases or travel, worrying officials of the possibility that the previously connected cases have turned into “community transmission”
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The measles virus is “incredibly transmissible,” Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, the state’s chief medical executive, noted in a statement.
On the other hand, two doses of the vaccine is 97% effective against measles, she and other experts say.
Cases rising nationwide
As vaccine rates have fallen in recent years, measles has taken root again in widespread outbreaks. As of Thursday, the US Centers for Disease Control reported 1,671 confirmed measles cases in 33 states. That puts the country on track to far surpass last year’s cases — 2,286 in all — which had been the highest number for a quarter-century.
In fact, the US likely will lose its measles-free status given in 2000 by the World Health Organization.
Measles, once rooted in a community, is difficult to contain among unvaccinated people. Once infected, a person may be symptom-free for two or three weeks and in that time unknowingly infect others.
Bagdasarian, an expert in infectious disease, and other experts have repeatedly urged parents to vaccinate their children. The American Academy of Pediatrics and the CDC recommend the vaccine at 12 to 15 months of age with a second dose given a minimum of 28 days after the first dose.
Recommending the vaccine for a child before her first birthday isn’t unknown. The CDC and the national pediatricians’ group recommend that infants 6–11 months old receive an “early dose” of the MMR vaccine before international travel.
Michigan’s adjusted vaccination recommendation for children in those two counties is in place until May 16 — the length of two incubation periods after the infectious period of the last identified measles case.
Vaccination recommendations for adults are less defined. Some adults who received vaccines between 1963 and 1967 may have received a less-effective version of the vaccine. Other adults vaccinated before 1989 may have only received one dose of the MMR vaccine and may be eligible for a second dose. Those who fall into those categories or are unsure about their vaccination history should contact their local health care provider.
To follow the state updates, visit this page here or track the state’s cases on the public dashboard here.
Symptoms:
Measles is highly contagious and spreads through direct person-to-person contact and through the air. Symptoms can take up to 21 days to appear after contact with the virus. During that time, the infected person can spread the virus to others.
Common symptoms include:
- High fever that can spike to over 104 degrees
- Cough
- Runny nose
- Red, watery eyes
- Tiny, white spots in the mouth.
- A rash that typically starts as flat red spots on the face, then spreads to the trunk, arms and legs. Small, raised bumps may also appear on top of the flat red spots.
What to do:
Individuals who think they may have been exposed, or who develop symptoms, are urged to call their health care provider before seeking testing or treatment so steps can be taken to prevent exposure to other individuals.
Vaccines are widely available at no cost through most health insurance or at local health departments and pharmacies. You can look up vaccination sites by ZIP code here. Some uninsured children are eligible for the Vaccines for Children and can receive no-cost vaccination at a provider enrolled in that program.
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