A recent visitor to the University of Michigan may have exposed students and community members to measles, according to the Washtenaw County Health Department’s local alert Thursday. The person was not associated with the University.
The department released a list of dates and times when virus exposures may have occurred, including the Michigan Medicine Adult Emergency Department and its waiting area on March 10-11, the Alice Lloyd Residence Hall’s second floor on March 11, the CVS Pharmacy on Jackson Road on March 11, the NextCare Urgent Care on Washtenaw Avenue on March 12, the CVS Pharmacy on Plymouth Road on March 14 and the Trinity Health IHA Medical Group WestArbor Primary Care and Urgent Care on Jackson Road on March 15.
This marks the fourth case of measles in the state of Michigan and the first person-to-person transfer of the infection this year. The visitor is believed to have contracted measles from the third carrier at the Trinity Health Emergency – Ann Arbor Hospital waiting area on March 1.
The department recommended in the alert that anyone who was at the exposed locations during the specific time frames reported watch for symptoms for the next 21 days. If any signs of measles appear, call ahead before visiting urgent care or an emergency room to prevent exposing others.
The measles virus remains active in the air or on surfaces for up to two hours and is considered highly infectious. Symptoms appear about 10-to-14 days after exposure and can include a sore throat, high fever, dry cough, skin rashes and small white spots on the inner linings of the mouth.
In the local alert, Juan Luis Marquez, medical director of the Washtenaw County Health Department, said the department is working to control the spread of the virus because of its severity.
“This situation illustrates why we work so hard to contain measles,” Marquez said. “People without immunity from vaccination or a prior illness are very likely to become ill if exposed, and about 1 in 5 will require hospitalization.”
Measles cases are on the rise in the United States, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reporting 58 total cases in 17 states as of March 14. The CDC recommends that all children receive the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, which is considered 93% effective at preventing measles after the first dose and 97% effective after the second dose. Adults and college students who have not demonstrated evidence of immunity are also recommended to receive two doses of the MMR vaccine.
Daily Staff Reporter Marissa Corsi can be reached at macorsi@umich.edu.