Measles Is Here

I recently told you that I was getting a bit more concerned about measles. Unfortunately my worry wasn’t misplaced. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHSS) is reporting an outbreak in Montcalm County (northeast of Grand Rapids). This is Michigan’s first outbreak since 2019. But what does this mean?

As we talked about earlier, measles was officially eliminated from the US in 2000. This means that it was not spreading freely, but would just pop up from time to time, usually in people who had travelled abroad. This new outbreak, which so far is only confirmed in three people, appears to be related to an ongoing outbreak in Ontario. Montcalm County has a low vaccination rate, so there are very likely to be more cases reported.

This outbreak is in a rural county far from the population centers of Southeast Michigan, but not that far. It’s time to check on your immunity. Remeber, all kids should be fully vaccinated according to the recommended schedule. Adults should take a look at the chart above. If you think you need a shot, call your pharmacy or local health department to see if they have them. It’s safe and effective.

Don’t count on the CDC to get on top of this—we may be on our own here. Keep in touch with your own doctor as needed, and check in with your family and friends to spread the news.

Stay well.

-pal