An Oakland County adult is the first measles patient in Michigan since July 2024.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and Oakland County Health Division confirmed the case at a press conference Friday afternoon, March 14.

Officials received confirmation of the disease only hours before, and wanted to alert the public because measles is highly contagious and can be dangerous for the unvaccinated.

“I’m not worried about vaccinated individuals,” said Kate Guzman, Oakland County health officer. “The vaccine is highly effective.”

The infected adult had recently traveled overseas; the patient’s vaccination status is unknown. The county did not release the person’s name, city of residence, age or travel destination.

Measles is spread by direct person-to-person contact and through the air. MDHHS recommends unvaccinated people ages 1 year and older receive measles vaccination to protect themselves and those around them.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have confirmed 301 measles cases in the United States in 2025. There have been three measles outbreaks, with three or more related cases, accounting for 93% of cases this year. One outbreak in Texas infected over 145 people and led to the death of a school-aged child.

Of the U.S. cases this year, 95% of those infected did not receive the measles vaccine, according to the CDC.

Guzman said infants can be vaccinated at 6 months if they are at higher risk of measles because of factors such as living with people who travel overseas or the household is hosting overseas visitors who are unvaccinated.

She said travel puts people at higher risk because of time spent in airports, where they encounter people from all over the world. Immunization rates are lower than the U.S. in some countries where the vaccine is not available.

Guzman said children, the elderly and people with compromised immune systems are at greatest risk of serious complications from the measles.

Measles-mumps-rubella Immunizations are typically given to children at 1 year and 4 years. After two doses, the vaccine is 97% effective, Guzman said. Adults born before 1989 who aren’t sure whether they ever got the vaccine or a booster should get one, especially if they work in health care or travel frequently.

“Let’s just get another vaccine,” she said.

Those who visited the following locations during these days and times may have been exposed to measles:

• Kruse & Muer on Main restaurant at 327 S. Main St. in Rochester Monday, March 3 from 5:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m.

• Henry Ford Rochester Hospital Emergency Department at 1101 W. University Drive in Rochester on Saturday, March 8, from 3:40 a.m. to Sunday, March 9, at 9:32 a.m. and Monday, March 10, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Additional sites of potential exposure may be identified as more information becomes available.

Guzman said it’s “unusual” that the exposure locations are this limited.

She said the patient developed a rash on March 7. Patients are contagious for four days before and after a rash appears.

If you think you were exposed to measles on or after Monday, March 10, Immune Globulin (Ig) treatment is effective within six days of exposure for high-risk individuals. That includes pregnant people and those who have a weakened immune system due to diseases such as diabetes or HIV, malnutrition or medications.

If you think you were exposed to measles before Monday, monitor for symptoms for 21 days. If symptoms develop, call your health care provider. Individuals born oin or before 1957 are considered immune.

If symptoms develop, do not visit your doctor or emergency room unless you call ahead so they can take precautions to prevent exposure to others, Guzman said.

Measles can live for up to two hours in the air where an infected person coughed or sneezed. 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 degrees).

• Runny nose.

• Red, watery eyes (conjunctivitis).

• Tiny white spots on the inner cheeks, gums and roof of mouth (Koplik Spots) two to three days after symptoms begin.

• A rash that is red, raised, blotchy; usually starts on the scalp and spreads to the face and torso.

The MMR vaccine is available through some health care providers, Oakland County Health Division offices in Southfield and Pontiac, and many pharmacies. Health Division offices are located at the following addresses:

• North Oakland Health Center, 1200 N. Telegraph Road, Building 34 East, Pontiac.

• South Oakland Health Center, 27725 Greenfield Road, Southfield.

Health Division clinics hours:

• Monday, Wednesday and Friday 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.

• Tuesday 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m.

• Thursday 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m.

Visit www.oakgov.com/health for more information on measles, or contact Nurse on Call, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday, at 800-848-5533 or noc@oakgov.com.

Nurse on Call will be available until 7 p.m. on Friday, March 14 and from 9 a.m.-noon on Saturday, March 15.