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GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan – The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has announced that two new cases of measles in southeastern Michigan have been exposed in Kent County.
The total number of cases for the state is now 43.
According to the MDHHS, one of the people with measles was at the Baymont near Wyndham Grand Rapids Airport, at 28th Street and Kraft Avenue SE, between midnight and 3 am. On April 12, he was also at the Urgent Care Med Express at 3100 Plainfield Ave. NE from 1pm to 6pm on April 12th.
Measles is highly contagious and the virus can live up to two hours in the air in the presence of an infected person.
There is still no confirmed case of measles in Kent County, but Ministry of Health officials urge residents to monitor symptoms: cough, runny nose, conjunctivitis, redness of the eyes, or fever.
Symptoms usually begin seven to 14 days after exposure.
While the health department is looking for people who may have been infected, officials say the exhibition
"Understand that we can see more cases of measles, (but) this is not a case of panic," said Brian Hartl, epidemiology supervisor of the Kent County Department of Health. "Measles is very contagious, but we focus only on people in those two places who are at risk of exposure.
"So, just living in Kent County does not mean you've been exposed to measles, it's just the people in those two places."
Hartl stated that the health department was working to determine where the exposed person had gone, who was present at the time and to find anyone who might have been exposed.
Spectrum Health's doctors responded that they were responding to calls from worried parents when the Ministry of Health announced the news of this recently confirmed case.
"We have just received today a lot of questions about what to do if my child is exposed," said Dr. Kara Willoughby, who said that about 20 people had called the doctor's office for questions.
The epidemic in Michigan is the largest since 65 cases were reported in 1991.
The MDHHA says that the measles vaccine is very effective and safe. After one dose, 95% of children are protected against measles and after two doses, almost 100% are immunized. It is not recommended for children under 12 months of age to be vaccinated unless there is suspicion of exposure.
For more information, visit the Centers for Disease Control website or the Michigan Epidemic Page.
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