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Jennifer Mullendore explains how vaccinations can protect communities against highly contagious infectious diseases such as measles.
Angela Wilhelm, [email protected]
The morning began like any other day at Birmingham's Derby Middle School, where school officials confirmed that a student with measles had attended classes on March 29 when he was potentially contagious.
Buses stopped along the car and a stream of cars dropped off students returning to school after a week's holiday in the spring. The oath of allegiance was read on the school's intercom system, and then an announcement was made about measles.
"Do not hesitate to contact your parents about it," said the voice on the intercom system. "This is not something we necessarily make decisions on." We must follow the guidelines set out by Oakland County. "If you have any questions, we encourage you to talk to your parents."
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Outside the Derby Middle School in Birmingham, where officials said that one student had a confirmed case of measles and could have exposed others to the virus on March 29th. (Photo: Jordan Kristen Shamus / Detroit Free Press)
The Derby Middle School student who contracted the virus is just a case of enlargement The Michigan measles epidemic has affected 41 people this year in the state and affects people aged 8 months to 63 years.
In a statement released Monday by the Free Press, Birmingham public schools said they follow the guidelines of the Oakland County Health Division, which require that unvaccinated and under-vaccinated students do not stay at home. home 21 days after the scheduled date. exposure to try to limit the spread of the highly contagious virus.
According to the health authorities, the best protection against measles is two documented doses of measles and mumps vaccine (MMR).
More: Do you think you are immune to the measles outbreak in Michigan? Think again.
More: Measles outbreak in Michigan: it's who is most vulnerable
"The health and well-being of our students is our top priority and we respect the health guidelines set by our county and state," the statement said. "We look forward to the return of all our students as soon as possible."
Measles is transmitted by person-to-person contact as well as by air, mainly when a person coughs or sneezes. The virus stays in the air for two hours after the departure of an infected person.
A rash is observed all over the body of a child with measles. (Photo: FRANCIS R. MALASIG, EPA-EFE)
The virus is so contagious that the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that if a person in a room is infected with the virus, 90% of other people in that space will become infected unless they are immunized.
According to the Michigan Department of Health and Social Services, 4.8% of Grade 7 students at Derby Middle School have benefited from a vaccination waiver in 2017 to be able to ignore some or all of the vaccines needed to go to school in Michigan.
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The sign in front of Derby Middle School in Birmingham, April 8, 2019. A student at the school has a confirmed case of measles and could have exposed others to March 29. (Photo: Jordan Kristen Shamus / Detroit Free Press)
In all, 14 of the 293 Grade 7 students in Derby obtained a vaccination waiver this year, the last year for which data were available. Among them, a derogation has been issued for medical reasons (for some people with immune system, HIV or cancer problems, vaccines are not recommended). Six vaccine exemptions were granted for religious reasons and seven for philosophical reasons. One student had an incomplete file.
Marlow Hudson dropped off her 14 year old son at Derby Middle School Monday morning and said she was not so worried that she had been vaccinated.
"I think the majority of people here are vaccinated," she said. "I think the school has taken steps to protect the students.The kids have been at the break week.
"I hope that parents who have not been vaccinated should monitor their children and consider getting vaccinated.
"I do not think it should be a fear, I think everyone is doing a good job, and it's a wake up call for parents."
Of the 41 cases of measles in Michigan, 39 are in Oakland County, one in Wayne County and one in Washtenaw County.
The MDHHS confirmed Monday that six people had received the recommended number of doses of MMR vaccine (one or two, depending on their age), and that 33 had an incomplete vaccination record or had not been vaccinated. The vaccination status of the last two cases, announced Monday night, was not known at the time of printing.
Michigan is one of 19 states affected by measles this year. The CDC reports that from January 1 to April 4, 465 cases were confirmed nationally.
To find out if you have been exposed to the virus, go to https://www.oakgov.com/health/ and at https://washtenaw.org/health. Exhibitions were also held on March 31 at the Holy Angels Catholic Church, at the San Miguel Grocery Store and at a Walmart supercentre in Sturgis, Michigan, near the border with Indiana.
Contact Kristen Jordan Shamus at 313-222-5997 or at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @ Kristenshamus.
040819-Measles-épidémie_ONLINE (Photo: USA TODAY & # 39; HUI)
Where can I get the MMR vaccine?
You can get it at your doctor's office or at your local health department:
Wastenaw County: Walk-in immunization clinics are scheduled for the Washtenaw County Department of Health, 555 Towner Street, Ypsilanti, from 9 am to 7 pm Tuesday, April 9 and 17h-19h Wednesday, April 10th. 734-544-6700.
Wayne County: Vaccines are given without an appointment and by appointment at 734-727-7100, 33030 Van Born Road, Wayne. The opening hours are from 8:00 to 11:30 and from 12:30 to 16:30. Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays or from 11am to 2.30pm. and from 15:30 to 19:30 on Wednesdays.
City of Detroit: The Detroit Health Department Immunization Program Clinic, Samaritan Center, 5555 Conner, is open from 9am to 5pm. Monday to Friday and 10am to 4pm Saturdays. Call 313-876-4667 for more details.
Oakland County: Vaccinations are available without appointment at two different locations from 8:30 to 18:00. Mondays and from 8:30 to 17h Tuesday to Friday:
- North Central Oakland, 1200 N. Telegraph Road, Pontiac
- South Oakland Center, 27725 Greenfield Road, Southfield
The nurse on call line is 800-848-5533.
Macomb County: Vaccines are available in three locations.
- Mount Clemens / Central Health Services Center, 43525 Elizabeth Road. 586-469-5372. Open from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm Mondays and Thursdays and from 8:30 to 18:30. Wednesdays
- Southeast Family Resource Center, 25401 Harper, St. Clair Shores. 586-466-6800. Open from 8:30 am to 6:30 pm Mondays and from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm Tuesdays and Fridays.
- Southwestern Health Center, 27690 Van Dyke, Warren. 586-465-8537. Open from 8:30 to 16:30. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays (except the third Friday of each month, open only from 11:30 to 16:30) and from 8:30 to 18:30. Thursdays
A complete list of county health departments is available at the following address: https://www.malph.org/resources/directory.
Read or share this story: https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2019/04/08/michigan-measles-outbreak-birmingham-derby-middle-school-student/3399561002/
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