The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has confirmed a measles case in Washtenaw County. The case is part of the larger Michigan outbreak.
Vaccination clinics
The Washtenaw County Health Department is hosting walk-in vaccination clinics at 555 Towner Street in Ypsilanti at the following times:
- Tuesday, April 9, 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.
- Wednesday, April 10, 5 – 7 p.m.
If you have Medicaid or Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance, or are uninsured or under-insured, and do not have proof of being vaccinated or having measles in the past, there will be no cost to you for the MMR vaccine. If you have another form of private insurance, contact your healthcare provider for the vaccine.
Exposure locations
Exposure locations are not yet available for the Washtenaw County case and will be provided as more information is learned at washtenaw.org/health. There are no public exposure sites for the Wayne County case.
Known exposure locations to date are available at www.oakgov.com/health.
About the vaccine
It is important for all Washtenaw County residents to be protected against measles, which is highly contagious, but vaccine-preventable. Two doses of the MMR (Measles / Mumps / Rubella) vaccine is about 97 percent effective at preventing measles. One dose is 93 percent effective.
If exposed, approximately 90 percent of people who have NOT been vaccinated or previously had measles will develop the disease.
If you do not have a record of two documented measles (MMR) vaccines, or if you are unsure if you have been vaccinated or have had measles in the past, contact your healthcare provider about getting vaccinated. You can also contact the Washtenaw County Health Department at 734-544-6700.
What are the symptoms of measles?
- High fever
- Cough
- Runny nose
- Red, watery eyes
- Tiny white spots on the inner cheeks, gums, and roof of the mouth 2-3 days after symptoms begin
- A rash that is red, raised, blotchy; usually starts on face, spreads to trunk, arms, and legs 3-5 days after symptoms begin
How long after exposure do symptoms begin?
Symptoms usually begin 7-14 days after exposure, but can appear as long as 21 days after exposure. If symptoms develop, do not visit your doctor, urgent care or emergency room unless you call ahead so they can take precautions to prevent exposure to other individuals.
How is measles spread?
Measles is easily spread by person-to-person direct contact and airborne spread of droplets from the nose, throat, and mouth through sneezing, coughing, and speaking. A person can be infected with measles just by being in a room with an infected person, even up to 2 hours after the infected person has left.
How long is a person contagious?
Measles can be spread 4 days before developing the rash through 4 days after the rash appears. Measles is highly contagious.
View and print our Measles Fact Sheet (PDF).