Summary
A small measles outbreak in Michigan began with an unvaccinated woman returning from Florida. The state health department is working hard to stop the outbreak, but doing so costs a lot of money and staff time, as many people exposed must be tracked and monitored.
Key Facts
- The Michigan outbreak started in early March with a young unvaccinated woman who had visited Florida.
- There are currently seven confirmed cases in Washtenaw County, Michigan.
- Measles cases have spread widely in the U.S. with 1,671 confirmed cases in 32 states this year.
- The Michigan health department spent $45,000 just on managing the first few cases.
- Contacts of infected people come from places like malls, hospitals, schools, and stores.
- The department is prioritizing measles control over other health services due to limited staff and resources.
- The Michigan Department of Health recommends early vaccination for young children between 6 and 11 months.
- Public health workers must call hundreds of people to verify vaccination records and advise quarantines where needed.
