After officials confirmed multiple cases linked to Canada, Michigan is experiencing its first measles outbreak since 2019.
Health officials have raised the alarm due to what they call concerning vaccination gaps in affected counties.
They noted that nearly 25% of young children in Montcalm County lack protection against this highly contagious disease that was once nearly eradicated.
Health officials in Michigan have reported seven confirmed measles cases across multiple counties, with three cases in Montcalm County officially classified as an outbreak.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has traced the Montcalm County outbreak to a larger outbreak in Ontario, Canada.
This revelation raises concerns about the cross-border transmission of this highly contagious disease.
The first measles case was identified in Oakland County, with additional cases subsequently appearing in Kent, Macomb, Montcalm, and Ingham counties.
This quick spread across counties demonstrates the extraordinary contagiousness of measles, which can infect up to 90% of unprotected people exposed to an infected individual.
Michigan’s outbreak is part of a troubling national trend. The CDC has confirmed measles outbreaks in five other states: Texas, New Mexico, Ohio, Kansas, and Indiana.
Nationwide, there are over 700 measles cases in at least 24 states—the highest number since 2019.
Texas has been particularly hard hit, with over 560 infections and two deaths among unvaccinated children.
The situation in Montcalm County is especially concerning due to low vaccination rates.
Nearly 25% of children under 3 in the county have not received their first MMR vaccine dose.
This creates conditions where this preventable disease can spread quickly through communities of vulnerable Americans.
“This outbreak underscores how contagious measles is and how quickly it can spread,” said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian.
“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,” she added.
Measles was once considered nearly eliminated in the United States thanks to widespread vaccination.
Before the measles vaccine became available in 1963, the disease infected 3-4 million Americans annually and caused 400-500 deaths.
The disease spreads easily through the air and via person-to-person contact.
Symptoms include high fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, distinctive white spots inside the mouth called Koplik spots, and a spreading rash.
For those exposed, the CDC recommends two doses of the MMR vaccine—the first at 12 to 15 months and the second at 4 to 6 years old.
While most vaccinated adults do not require a booster, those vaccinated before 1968 may need an additional dose due to a less effective vaccine version used during that time.
The MMR vaccine is widely available at doctors’ offices, pharmacies, and local health departments for those needing to update their protection against this dangerous and preventable disease.
