Detroit Evening Report: Health officials warn of measles exposure after Detroit child diagnosed

Detroit health officials are warning residents about possible exposure to measles after confirming a 4-year-old in the city contracted the highly contagious disease.

Subscribe to the Detroit Evening Report on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

Measles is a vaccine-preventable disease caused by a virus that is spread by direct person-to-person contact, and through the air. The latest case marks the fifth reported in the state this year.

According to the Health Department, the child could have exposed others while at Acadian Urgent Care on Springwells Street between noon and 3 p.m. Monday, April 1; as well as the Rite Aid Pharmacy on Vernor between 1:45 and 4 p.m. The child was also in the Emergency Room of Children’s Hospital of Michigan between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m. on Wednesday, April 3.

Officials are warning people who may have possibly been exposed to take necessary precautions. 

“While this case appears to be a single isolated case at this time, we want everyone to be aware that measles is so contagious that 90% of unvaccinated people who are exposed to measles will become infected,” said Detroit Health Department Chief Public Health Officer, Denise Fair Razo, in a statement. “Infected people can spread measles before noticing any symptoms, including four days before and four days after the rash appears. Our best advice is to get vaccinated against measles if you have not already done so. It is part of the two-dose Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) series of childhood vaccines.”

The measles can also be spread through the air as much as two hours after an infected person has left the space. Residents who may have been exposed should watch for symptoms – such as high fever, respiratory problems or rash – for the next 21 days. 

Anyone with symptoms should call their doctor’s office or urgent care before going there – so measures can be taken to prevent spread of the disease. Exposed individuals can still get a vaccine within 72 hours of exposure.

In general, individuals who have received two appropriately spaced doses of the measles vaccine (MMR) are considered immune. For more information, visit detroitmi.gov/health.

Other headlines for Wednesday, April 10, 2024:

• The state Treasurer has announced $2.8 million in grants for 13 financially distressed municipalities. 
• Detroit’s casinos brought in more than $123 million in revenue last month.
• Detroit officials are getting some special technological help to keep the beach at Belle Isle clean. They’re using a new robot called “BeBot” to pick up litter along the beach.
• Local entrepreneur Charity Dean will open a new coffee shop downtown at the Residences at Water Square, the Detroit Free Press reported.  

Do you have a community story we should tell? Let us know in an email at detroiteveningreport@wdet.org.