Well being division points warning after Metro Detroit little one comes down with extremely contagious virus

OAKLAND COUNTY, Mich. – The Michigan Division of Well being and Human Companies says Michigan has its first confirmed case of measles since 2019.

An Oakland County little one touring internationally turned in poor health with the virus.

Measles is wildly contagious.

“It’s one of the vital infectious viruses now we have,” mentioned Dr. Gretchen Snoyenbos Newman with the DMC.

Michigan’s present measles vaccination price is 83.6% for youngsters 19-35 months.

“It’s concerningly low,” Newman mentioned. “Pediatric infectious illness medical doctors, pediatricians, and the general public well being neighborhood at massive have actually been making an attempt to ring this alarm since earlier than the pandemic, actually within the wake of the pandemic the place we’re seeing decreased charges of childhood vaccination, and measles is the anchor of childhood vaccination.”

The final time Michigan had measles was in 2019. Greater than 40 individuals turned sick, ranging in age from eight months to 63 years outdated.

MDDHS is encouraging anybody one yr and older to get the measles vaccine.