Seventh Measles Case Reported in Washtenaw County: Key Exposure Sites Identified
Washtenaw County is witnessing a concerning rise in measles cases, with the health department confirming its seventh case this year. The latest patient, an unvaccinated child, was in close contact with the first reported case on March 11, according to health officials.
The Washtenaw County Health Department expressed concern about potential exposure at a local healthcare facility, identified as Trinity Health in Ann Arbor, between the afternoon and evening hours of March 21. This follows earlier potential exposure at other locations due to a previously suspected case, now confirmed.
The department has advised individuals who were present at various sites during specified times to be vigilant for measles symptoms for up to 21 days after exposure.
| Date | Location | Time |
| Tuesday, March 17 | Crane Liberal Arts (LA) Building In or around Classroom 241 Washtenaw Community College (WCC) 4800 E Huron River Dr, Ann Arbor, MI 48105 |
11 a.m. to 3 p.m. |
| Gunder Myron (GM) Building In or around Classroom 332 Washtenaw Community College (WCC) 4800 E Huron River Dr, Ann Arbor, MI 48105 |
1 to 5 p.m. | |
| Kroger 2010 Whittaker Rd, Ypsilanti, MI 48197 |
5 to 7:10 p.m. | |
| Saturday, March 21 | Trinity Health Ann Arbor Emergency room treatment areas (this does not include the waiting area) 5301 McAuley Dr., Ypsilanti, MI 48197 |
1:45 to 7:28 p.m. |
Health officials emphasized the importance of not visiting medical facilities in person without prior notification if measles symptoms develop. Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, Michigan’s chief medical executive, highlighted that measles can linger in the air for up to two hours, increasing the risk of infection even without direct contact.
“Measles for many years had been considered a legacy of the past,” Bagdasarian stated, noting that the declining vaccination rates have led to its resurgence. “The United States had declared measles eliminated in 2000, and it seems very likely that we will lose our measles elimination status this year.”
Individuals who have received two doses of the measles vaccine, those born before 1957, and individuals with a history of measles are generally considered immune. Washtenaw County Health Department Public Information Officer Susan Ringler-Cerniglia emphasized the high contagiousness of measles, stating that about 1 in 5 unvaccinated children with measles require hospitalization.
“The more people that aren’t vaccinated, when you have something so very contagious, it just has more opportunities to take hold and spread,” Ringler-Cerniglia mentioned. She added that vaccination within 72 hours of exposure could prevent infection, but this window had closed for the most recent case.
For high-risk groups like infants under one year and immunocompromised individuals, immune globulin therapy is an option to boost immunity.
Symptoms of measles, which include high fever, cough, runny nose, a red rash, and white spots in the mouth, typically appear 1 to 2 weeks post-exposure but can take up to 3 weeks to manifest. Exposed individuals are advised to self-isolate for three weeks and inform healthcare providers before seeking medical care.
“This is a really good time right now for people to review their vaccination records and make sure that they’re not missing any vaccines,” Bagdasarian urged. “This is a time where we’re seeing not just a resurgence of measles, but also diseases like mumps and pertussis,” commonly known as whooping cough.
Ringler-Cerniglia added, “If you’re someone that’s opted not to get vaccinated because you really didn’t think there was a likelihood of being exposed, you know, maybe time to reconsider that. This vaccine has been around a long time and been used very safely and effectively for many, many years.”
Michigan is among 31 states experiencing measles outbreaks this year, as noted by the Centers for Disease Control. An outbreak is defined as three or more connected cases, with four states reporting over 100 cases.
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