Department of Public Health

Measles

Public health officials across Michigan continue to monitor an increasing number of measles cases in the southeast part of the state. While there are no current cases in Ottawa County, the Ottawa County Department of Public Health urges vaccination against the disease for people who are not vaccinated or otherwise immune to measles. Measles is a very contagious disease that can have lifelong health complications. Measles is spread through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs or sneezes. The virus can live for up to two hours in the air. Measles is so contagious that if one person has it nine out of 10 people close to that person will also get the disease unless they are vaccinated or immune.

Know and have documentation of your measles immunity status. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention considers a person immune to measles if they are:

  • An adult born before 1957, had the measles vaccine (MMR), have lab confirmation of past infection or had a blood test indicating immunity. Some adults should have two doses of the MMR vaccine (college students, health care staff and international travelers).
  • A child one-year-old through three-years-old with one dose of the MMR vaccine.
  • A child four-years-old through 18 years old with two doses of the MMR vaccine.

These vaccine recommendations may change in an outbreak situation. If you do not know your vaccination status, contact your health care provider. The vaccine is safe and it is not harmful to get another dose if you are already immune to measles. The recommended two doses of the vaccine are about 97% effective in preventing measles. There is no treatment for measles–only prevention. Vaccination is the best protection against the measles.

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