The Kent County Health Department is urging vaccination against measles. This as the number of cases on the east side of the state rise and the Centers for Disease Control now says the country is seeing the second greatest number of cases since measles was eliminated in 2000.
“I think we should be a little more vigilant than we were before this outbreak started. Just paying attention if someone is developing some of these symptoms, like cough, rash and watery eyes. We should really be thinking about, does this person have measles.”
That’s Dr. Nirali Bora, Medical Director for the Kent County Health Department. The department says there are no current cases reported in Kent County, but the Health Department is urging vaccination against the disease to those are not vaccinated or otherwise immune to Measles.
“This situation is no different than others. But just knowing there are cases in Michigan with many potential contacts this is just an especially sensitive time recommending people get their routine vaccinations.”
The state’s health department says that the measles outbreak in Southeast Michigan is now up to 22 cases as of last Wednesday. In a news release, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services says that Oakland County has 21 of the known measles cases. Affected people range in age from 11 to 63 years old… and that the first case has now been reported in Wayne County.
Michigan’s measles outbreak dates back to March 13, when the health department reported that the first case came from someone “visiting from Israel following a stay in New York.” And now, the Centers for Disease Control says this is the second-greatest number of cases reported in the U.S. since measles was eliminated in 2000.
Symptoms include fever, rash, cough and a runny nose. The Health Department says Measles is so contagious that if one person has it, up to 90% of those close to that person will get the disease unless vaccinated or immune.
“What we worry about with measles, is that up to 30 percent of people who have measles, can get complications. And some of these complications include, pneumonia, encephalitis, which is a brain infection, ear infection. And some of the people at the highest risk, include infants and children under 5, adults can have complications, pregnant women who are not immunized can have complications as well and those who have compromised immune systems, whether from leukemia, HIV or other illnesses.”
Dr. Bora says if you think you have measles, contact your doctor’s office by phone to start to avoid possibly infecting others. The health department says if you think you’ve been exposed to limit contact with other until a diagnosis is confirmed.
