Health officials confirm Macomb County child measles case, alert public about possible exposure sites in Warren and Troy

(WWJ) A new case of measles has been confirmed the Metro Detroit area.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services announced Friday that a Macomb County child has been confirmed to have the state's sixth document case this year.

The child was diagnosed on July 3, officials said.

Further details about the patient, including age and city of residence, were not released.

Because the measles virus can stay in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves an area, officials want to alert the public about two possible exposure locations in the Metro Detroit area.

Officials say people who were present at the following places, at these times. may have been exposed:

• Motel 6 , 8300 Chicago Road, Warren, June 26.

• Children’s Hospital of Michigan Troy Emergency Room, 350 W. Big Beaver Road, Troy, June 30, from 1:30 to 4 p.m.

Officials said exposed staff members at the Motel 6 and Children’s Hospital locations have been notified and are undergoing health monitoring by the local health departments.

The Macomb County Health Department currently conducting contact tracing to identify other exposure sites within this time frame, MDHHS said.

If you believe you were exposed at one of these locations, you are urged to call your doctor, or contact MCHD at 586-783-8190 for vaccination information and health guidance. Anyone potentially exposed should also monitor for symptoms such as fever, respiratory illness or rash for 21 days. If symptoms develop call ahead before visiting a doctor, urgent care or emergency room so they can take precautions to avoid exposing others.

About Measles (from the MDHHS):

Measles is a highly contagious, vaccine-preventable disease that is spread by direct person-to-person contact and through the air. Measles is so contagious that 90% of unvaccinated people who are exposed will become infected. Those infected can spread measles before noticing symptoms, including from four days before through four days after the rash appears.

The virus can live for up to two hours in the air where the infected person was present. Symptoms of measles usually begin 7-14 days after exposure, but can appear up to 21 days after exposure and may 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) two to three days after symptoms begin.
• A rash that is red, raised, blotchy; usually starts on face, spreads to trunk, arms and legs three to five days after symptoms begin.

For more information on measles in Michigan, visit Michigan.gov/Measles .