Passing all but unnoticed in recent days were reports of a measles outbreak in the Lower Peninsula.

News outlets in and around Washtenaw County say three linked cases have been reported since March 12, all in that county. This isn’t good, from at least two vantage points: Number one, of course, is the fact that measles is an extremely contagious and dangerous viral illness that can lead to severe complications like pneumonia, brain damage (encephalitis), and death, particularly in children under 5 and unvaccinated individuals. Approximately 1 in 5 unvaccinated people in the U.S. with measles requires hospitalization. And number two, the fact that little is being said about it suggests that people are getting increasingly comfortable with the fact that these outbreaks are taking place from time to time.

Michigan isn’t alone. According to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, more than 1,350 cases of measles have been recorded across 31 states during the first three months of 2026. And all of the above with a vaccine easily available that has a 97 percent effective rate.

Thankfully, there are no new public exposure sites to report in Michigan at this time. The initial Michigan measles case was apparently associated with travel to Florida. The additional cases linked to this outbreak demonstrate how quickly measles can spread among individuals who are not immune to the virus.

“Measles cases are spreading like wildfire this year, and with families traveling over spring break the risk of exposure increases,” said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, the state’s chief medical executive. “In this case, what happens on spring break does not stay on spring break. Measles is incredibly transmissible and can easily travel home with us, infecting others in our schools and communities.” 

For the record, this writing isn’t meant to convince so-called anti-vaxers that vaccinations are not only safe but effective. That case has already been made multiple times by the best medical people in the world. Anti-vaxers and their children will live (and in some cases, die) with their decisions.

For the rest of us, check shot records to insure they are up to date with the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) and all other recommended vaccinations.

Extreme? Yes it is. But so is measles.

Here’s a short list of common measles symptoms to keep an eye out for:   

• High fever (may spike to over 104˚F). 

• Cough. 

• Runny nose. 

• Red, watery eyes (conjunctivitis). 

• Tiny white spots on the inner cheeks, gums and roof of the mouth (Koplik Spots). 

• A rash that starts as flat red spots on the face at the hairline, then spreads to the trunk, arms and legs three to five days after symptoms begin. Small, raised bumps may also appear on top of the flat red spots.

For more information on measles in Michigan, visit Michigan.gov/Measles.