Prepare for measles | Local news

TRAVERSE CITY – Measles was declared completely eradicated in the United States almost two decades ago.

Now, 19 years after public health authorities declared that the only new cases in the United States were linked to infected travelers, the highly contagious disease was making a dangerous comeback with more than 700 confirmed cases in 22 states.

Officials said Monday that the national total – just four months into the year – had already eclipsed the total full years since 1994, when 963 cases had been reported. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services announced Wednesday that new cases of measles had been discovered in Oakland County and Detroit, bringing to 42 the total number of cases in 2019.

"If a person enters a room with a hundred unvaccinated people and spends a little time there, probably 90% of them will have measles," said Michael Collins, Medical Director of the Department of Health. from Grand Traverse County.

Although the measles outbreak is contained in southeastern Michigan, local health officials are now working with school officials to prepare for the onset of the disease. The Grand Traverse County Department of Health joined Thursday with the Traverse City Area Public Schools and sent a letter to students, families and staff to inform them of the illness and what would happen if a confirmed case was discovered in the district.

"We choose to be proactive, ensuring that information is in the hands of families," said Cindy Berck, TCAPS 'Executive Director of Human Resources. "Ultimately, they will make decisions about their next steps and we encourage staff to take it seriously and consider their next steps."

A confirmed case of measles in a TCAPS daycare or school will require the health service to prohibit anyone who can not prove to have received the MMR vaccine or who has previously had the disease from entering the compound from school. The exclusion will last 21 days after the identification of the last case, which is the time to develop the symptoms after exposure.

Grand Traverse County has one of the highest percentages of students receiving a 7.7% vaccination waiver, as of December 31, 2018, according to the MDHHS. The average of the state is 3.6%. This places the Great Traverse 80th out of 84, with more than 1,000 unvaccinated students. Neighboring counties are not much better. Leelanau ranks 78th with 6.6%, Kalkaska 70th with 5.2% and Antrim 45th with 3.9%. Benzie is the only county with a percentage lower (3.5) than the state average and ranks 35th.

"It is certainly possible that we have cases here," Collins said. "Because of the relatively high renunciation rate, it is much more likely that we will do it widely and we will have a community-wide epidemic."

A waiver can be granted through a local health department for a valid health problem or "if the parent or guardian has religious or philosophical beliefs that prevent receiving a vaccine." Under national legislation, anyone applying for a non-medical derogation must be informed of the benefits of vaccination and the risk of illness caused by not being vaccinated.

Seventy-five percent of the more than 700 cases this year are children or adolescents. No deaths were reported, but 66 were hospitalized.

Measles usually causes fever, runny nose, cough and rash all over the body. A very small fraction of infected people may suffer from complications such as pneumonia and dangerous swelling of the brain. CDC officials estimate that for every 1,000 children with measles, one or two will die.

Joshua Meyerson, medical director of the Northwestern Michigan Department of Health, said there was no current case of measles spread in northern Michigan whose health officials are aware.

However, epidemics in other parts of the state and the country encourage people to get vaccinated or to check their immunization status.

"That's why we want to keep the highest vaccination rates possible at all times," said Meyerson. "All that is needed, it is a sensitive person and, if it enters a population where immunization rates are not high, the disease spreads."

Meyerson said that vaccinated adults born after 1957 should be protected. Those who do not have records showing that they have been vaccinated or do not remember it should contact their doctor or the local health department for a consultation. Babies usually receive their first dose of MMR vaccine between 12 and 15 months of age, but doctors are allowed to administer the vaccine to infants up to 6 months old in the event of an epidemic. People under 6 months of age or with immune suppression problems should avoid public places in the event of an epidemic.

"I encourage all parents to fully protect their children from all vaccine-preventable diseases by immunizing them," Meyerson said. "We must all offer our children a safe place to go to school."