Seven measles cases have been recorded in Washtenaw County, with the Monroe County Health Department identifying an eighth case on Thursday. 

Measles is a highly contagious disease that is preventable by vaccine. It spreads through direct person-to-person contact through the air, with symptoms appearing between seven to 14 days after contact with the virus, though they can take up to 21 days to appear. 

Symptoms include a high fever of up to 104 degrees Fahrenheit; cough; runny nose; red, watery eyes; small white spots on the inner cheeks, gums and roof of the mouth; and a rash that starts as flat red spots at the hairline, before spreading to the trunk, arms and legs in three to five days after symptoms begin. Small, raised bumps can also appear on top of these flat, red spots.

“Measles is incredibly transmissible and we are now seeing possible spread outside the initial outbreak in Washtenaw County,” Natasha Bagdasarian, the state’s chief medical executive said in a statement. “Because people with measles can transmit the virus before they experience symptoms, we want to make sure we are protecting the most vulnerable members of our communities by recommending early vaccination for infants ages 6 through 11 months.”

A test for measles has come back positive in this example. (Getty Image via Bridge Michigan)

The measles, mumps and rubella, or MMR, vaccine offers the best defense against the disease, with two doses offering 97% protection against measles, Bagdasarian said. She advised anyone in Michigan without evidence of measles immunity to get the MMR vaccine as soon as possible.

The vaccine is routinely given to children between 12 and 15 months old, with a second dose given at least 28 days after the first. However the department is recommending an accelerated first dose for infants six to 11 months old if they meet either of the following criteria: residence in Washtenaw, Monroe, Wayne, Oakland, Jackson, Livingston or Lenawee counties, or if they travel to Washtenaw and Monroe counties. 

The advisory will remain in effect until May 16, which the department said will encompass two incubation periods since the last identified case. Any updates will be shared through the department’s measles webpage.

Any six- to 11-month-old children who receive the MMR vaccine will need two additional doses of the vaccine after they turn 12 months old to complete the series, the department notes. 

Additionally, the department said it is possible that adults who were vaccinated between 1963 and 1967 received a less effective version of the vaccine. Adults vaccinated before 1989 may have only received one dose of the MMR vaccine and may be eligible for a second. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services recommends adults in either category contact their health provider or local pharmacy to see if they are eligible for a dose of the vaccine. 

Vaccines are available at doctor’s offices as well as most pharmacies and local health departments. Children who qualify for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Vaccines For Children program can receive no cost vaccines from enrolled providers. 

For 25 years the U.S. has been considered a measles-free country, however, health experts warn that the U.S. is at risk of losing this status due to ongoing outbreaks of the disease. According to KFF Health News, continuous spread of the disease between states for more than a year will mean the U.S. is no longer measles free. Misinformation and declining vaccination rates have contributed to the spread of the disease. 

The state health department advises anyone who believes they may have been exposed to measles, or who have contracted symptoms to call their health provider before seeking treatment to limit other individuals’ exposure to the disease.