YPSILANTI (WWJ) -- Health officials are strongly urging vaccinations, while declaring a measles outbreak in Washtenaw County.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services said Thursday that three measles cases have been confirmed in the county in the past week.
All three people, including two children ages 5 to 17, were unvaccinated.
The MDHHS said investigators have traced the initial infection back to someone who had recently traveled to Florida, and say the additional cases show just how quickly the virus can spread.
Susan Ringler Cerniglia, spokesperson for the Washtenaw County Health Department, says don't want people to be alarmed, but they do want people to be aware, and to take the appropriate precautions if they may have been exposed.
"This isn't an emergency, per se, but it is a serious situation," said, in an interview with WWJ Newsradio 950's Jay Dennis.
"One in five folks folks thar become ill from measles are typically hospitalized. And those serious things that can happen include pneumonia, blindness, encephalitis. So, some very serious risks there and we have the effective vaccine to ward those off."
The health department has identified nine public locations where people may have been exposed:
Wed, March 4, Crunch Fitness
3020 Washtenaw Ave, Ypsilanti, MI 48197
5:00 pm to 8:40 pm
Wed, March 4, Sidetrack Bar & Grill
56 E Cross St, Ypsilanti MI 48198
7:45 pm to 1 a.m.
Thurs, March 5, Briarwood Mall
100 Briarwood Cir, Ann Arbor, MI 48108
3:00 pm to 6:30 pm
Thurs, March 5, T-Mobile
2044 Whittaker Rd, Ypsilanti, MI 48197
6 p.m. to 8:40 p.m.
Thurs, March 5, Cricket Wireless
Roundtree Place Shopping Center
2547 Ellsworth Rd, Ypsilanti, MI 48197
6:55 p.m. to 8:55 p.m.
Fri, March 6, CVS Pharmacy
1415 E Michigan Ave, Ypsilanti, MI 48198
4 p.m. to 6:07 p.m.
Fri, March 6, Cricket Wireless
Roundtree Place Shopping Center
2547 Ellsworth Rd, Ypsilanti, MI 48197
7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Sat, March 7, Ypsilanti Urgent Care Walk-In Clinic
301 W Michigan Ave #100, Ypsilanti, MI 48197
7:15 p.m. to 9:27 p.m.
Sun, March 8, Canton Urgent Care Walk-In Clinic
43033 Ford Road, Canton, MI 48187
4:30 pm to 7:00 pm
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Public health officials are urging families to ensure they are up to date on all vaccines, particularly if traveling, as more than 1,350 cases of measles have been recorded across 31 states during the first three months of 2026.
“Measles cases are spreading like wildfire this year, and with families traveling over spring break the risk of exposure increases,” said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, chief medical executive. “In this case, what happens on spring break does not stay on spring break. Measles is incredibly transmissible and can easily travel home with us, infecting others in our schools and communities. The MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine remains our best defense, and two doses of MMR offer 97% protection against measles. We urge all Michigan residents to check their vaccination records to ensure they are up to date with the MMR vaccine.”
The health department noted that vaccine uptake in Michigan has continued to drop over the past year, leaving more children and young adults vulnerable to this virus, which can cause hospitalization, brain swelling, pneumonia and even death.
“Our team is working very hard to contain this outbreak as much as possible,” said Dr. Juan Luis Marquez, Washtenaw County Health Department medical director. “It saves valuable time and resources when people are fully protected through vaccination and allows us to focus where people may be vulnerable because they’re too young for vaccination, immunocompromised or pregnant.”
According to the MDHHS, measles is a highly contagious, vaccine-preventable disease that spreads through direct person-to-person contact and through the air. Anyone who is not immune to measles is at risk. Measles symptoms usually appear seven to 14 days after contact with the virus but can take up to 21 days. Measles can be spread by an infected individual before they show symptoms.
Common symptoms include:
High fever (may spike to over 104˚F).
Cough.
Runny nose.
Red, watery eyes (conjunctivitis).
Tiny white spots on the inner cheeks, gums and roof of the mouth (Koplik Spots).
A rash that starts as flat red spots on the face at the hairline, then spreads to the trunk, arms and legs three to five days after symptoms begin. Small, raised bumps may also appear on top of the flat red spots.
Individuals who think they may have been exposed, or who develop symptoms, are urged to call their health care provider before seeking testing or treatment so steps can be taken to prevent exposure to other individuals.
Vaccines are available at doctor’s offices, most pharmacies and local health departments. Children eligible for the Vaccines for Children program can receive no-cost vaccination at a provider enrolled in that program.
Something to note for older Michiganders: MDHHS says it's possible that some people vaccinated prior to 1968 received a less-effective version of the vaccine. Individuals vaccinated before 1989 may have only received one dose of the MMR vaccine and may be eligible for a second dose. If you fall into either of these categories, or if you are unsure whether you have ever received the MMR vaccine, contact your health care provider or local pharmacy to see if you are eligible for a dose of the vaccine.
For more information on measles in Michigan, visit Michigan.gov/Measles.