State health officials are responding to a measles outbreak in Oakland County. Michigan Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson Angela Minicuci tells WSJM News it all started with one person who got the measles while traveling. Since then, the total number of cases as a result of the one infection is up to eight. Minicuci says Michigan also had a high rate of measles last year.
“There was a total of 19 cases for 2018, which was the highest number of cases we had in the state since 1994, and so bringing it up to 8 brings us almost halfway to where we were for all of last year,” Minicuci said.
Oakland County health officials have released a list of more than 30 locations where infected persons could have spread the measles. Minicuci says multiple factors are at play here.
“We have a higher number of unvaccinated individuals in that area of the state, as well as the fact that it’s something a lot of other states are dealing with,” Minicuci said.
The quick spread of those measles cases points to how contagious the illness is. Minicuci says everyone should check with their doctor to make sure they’re properly protected. Oakland county health officials are holding a measles vaccine clinic this weekend. There have so far been no measles cases this year on the west side of the state. You can learn more about important vaccinations at IVaccinate.org.
