Ottawa County Confirms First Measles Case in More Than Three Decades

The Ottawa County Health Department has confirmed that they, in partnership with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, have confirmed a case of measles in Ottawa County.

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This is the first confirmed case of measles in Ottawa County since 1991.

Measles Confirmed in Ottawa County, Michigan

No details about the resident with measles have been released, but the county released a statement noting that there are no public exposure sites to announce at this time. The county is working to contact people who may have been exposed.

What You Should Know About Measles

According to the CDC, measles is highly contagious. Symptoms include a high fever, cough, runny nose, red, watery eyes, and a rash. Measles is particularly dangerous for children under the age of five and can lead to serious complications such as pneumonia and encephalitis.

READ MORE: Michigan Confirms First Measles Case of 2026

While measles was declared "eliminated" in America back in 2000, it still makes its way into the country every year after being contracted by travelers who bring it back into the United States.

Who is Immune to Measles?

According to the release by the Ottawa County Health Department, there are several groups of people who are considered to be immune to measles.

Those groups include:

• Any child (K-12) or adult who has received both doses of the MMR (Measles, Mumps, and Rubella) vaccine.
• Preschool children who have received one dose of the vaccine.
• Those who have had measles before.
• Anyone who was born before 1957.

If you are unsure of your vaccination status, you're urged to contact your healthcare provider.