State officials have confirmed a second case of measles in MI, and the infected person is a Livingston County resident, according to the county health department.
Washtenaw County Public Health is warning of a possible exposure to measles after a second case discovered in a MI adult.
The HHS used the announcement more as a precaution for state residents to be aware of the symptoms of measles, along with the importance of routine vaccinations against this highly-contagious affliction. Measles can cause complications such as pneumonia and encephalitis (inflammation of the brain). The illness starts with a high fever, runny nose, cough and reddened light-sensitive eyes.
A person with measles may be contagious for a few days before they start having tell-tale symptoms, increasing the possibility of exposing others to the infection; they remain contagious until several days after the rash appears. It spreads through the air through coughing and sneezing.
Dr. Eden Wells, chief medical executive for the Department of Health and Human Services, said measles is generally a rare disease in the U.S.
In 2014, the United States experienced a record number of measles cases, with 667 cases from 27 states reported, the greatest number of cases since 2000, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.
"The measles vaccine is highly effective and very safe", she said. Both restaurants are working with Washtenaw County health officials to help notify employees and members of the public about the potential exposure. Untreated, it can lead to severe illness that requires hospitalization and even death. Nationally in 2014 there were 667 cases, including five in MI.
Before the invention of the vaccine, measles killed over 2.6 million children worldwide every year. The MDHHS says that the best line of defense against measles is vaccination. A majority of those cases involved people who were not vaccinated.
"Measles is still common in many parts of the world, including some countries in Europe, Asia the Pacific and Africa", WCPH notes. In 2016, 70 people from 16 states contracted it.
The department has more information about measles at its website.
"Personally, I believe people should get vaccinated, especially now when there is so much travel between different countries and continents", Pichineru said.