ROCHESTER HILLS (WWJ) Oakland County health officials are notifying the public of a potential measles exposure site in Rochester Hills.
The Oakland County Health Division said the alert involves a person from another county. People who visited the medical office building at 3950 S. Rochester Rd, at the corner of South Boulevard, on Tuesday, June 3 anytime between 8 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. may have been exposed to measles.
Health officials said people at high-risk of complications from the highly contagious virus include pregnant women; those who have a weakened immune system due to illnesses including HIV or diabetes, or certain medications like chemotherapy; and unvaccinated children under the age of five. Immune Globulin (IG) therapy is offered to high-risk individuals and is considered effective within six days of exposure.
Those born during or before 1957 are considered immune, according to health officials.
If you are not eligible for IG, health officials said you should monitor for symptoms through June 24. They include: high fever (may spike above 104 degrees Fahrenheit), cough, runny nose, red and watery eyes; and tiny white Koptik Spots on the inner cheeks, gums and roof of the mouth. They usually develop within two to three days after symptoms start. The tell-tale rash is red, raised and blotchy. It often starts on the face and spreads to the legs and arms-- showing up within three to five days of symptoms appearing.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) describes the measles as "highly contagious and vaccine preventable." It can linger in the air for up to two hours after an infected person coughs or sneezes. Symptoms usually develop within seven to 14 days, but can take up to 21 days to show up.
The Oakland County Health Division, in accordance with the CDC, recommends any unvaccinated person who is one year-old or above receive the measles vaccine "to protect themselves and those around them." According to the CDC, two doses of the MMR vaccine are 97% effective in preventing the virus. One dose is about 93% effective.
The CDC reports that one in five unvaccinated people who contract the measles will be hospitalized. One to three per 1,000 children who are stricken with the virus die from neurological or respiratory complications.
Common complications include pneumonia and encephalitis. If a woman contracts it while pregnant, measles can cause a baby to be born prematurely or underweight.
The MMR vaccine is available at many doctor's offices, at the Oakland County Health Division Offices in Southfield and Pontiac, and at many pharmacies.
Visit www.oakgov.com/health for more information on measles, or contact Nurse on Call, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, at 800-848-5533 or noc@oakgov.com.