LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Michigan bears part of the burden of a rising outbreak of measles alongside more than a dozen other states.
How many cases so far?
As of Feb. 29, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recorded 41 measles cases across 16 jurisdictions spanning states from east to west.
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“Measles spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes,” according to the CDC. “It is so contagious that if one person has it, up to 9 out of 10 around them will also become infected if they are not protected.”
The disease begins as a fever but can then turn into a cough, runny nose, and red eyes according to the CDC.
“Then a rash of tiny, red spots breaks out,” the CDC said in a statement. “It starts at the head and spreads to the rest of the body. The rash can last for a week, and coughing can last for 10 days. Measles can cause serious health complications, such as pneumonia or encephalitis, and even death.”
Michigan Health and Human Services (MDHHS) encourages action.
MDHHS is recommending vaccination for individuals 1 year and older who haven’t received the measles vaccine.
“Getting vaccinated is the best way to protect ourselves and our loved ones from potential outbreaks of diseases like measles,” said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, chief medical executive. “It is important to make sure our families are up to date on all routine vaccines to prevent the spread of severe illness and disease. Now is a great time to check with your health care provider to make sure you are current with all your vaccines.”
The state agency also emphasized that the highly contagious disease can live for “up to two hours in the air where the infected person was present.” Symptoms of measles begin 7-14 days after exposure but can appear up to 21 days after exposure according to the group.
Recent history of the disease in the U.S.
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In 2019, the U.S. experienced 1,274 cases across 31 states, marking a new record since the 20th century.
“This is the greatest number of cases reported in the U.S. since 1992,” according to the CDC. “The majority of cases were among people who were not vaccinated against measles. Measles is more likely to spread and cause outbreaks in U.S. communities where groups of people are unvaccinated.”
2022 had the next highest number with 121 measles cases followed by 2023 with 58 cases.
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