Measles Outbreak Here in Michigan

Measles is a disease most of us had thought was long gone. There's a vaccine, and nobody get Measles anymore, right? Wrong! There is an outbreak of cases and Michigan has some.

Our news partner, WZZM TV13 reported federal health officials are investigating a outbreak of measles this year that has spread to Michigan and 20 other states and the District of Columbia. The majority of people who got measles were unvaccinated.

So, what can you do? Two doses of vaccines prevent measles 93 percent of the time, health officials say. The virus is highly contagious and can linger in the air for about two hours after a person with measles has left the room. Out of 1,000 people who contract the virus, two to three will die from it. A higher rate will experience life-changing complications.Symptoms include red eyes, cough, runny nose and high fever, which is followed by a red rash spreads all over the body. The infection can result in hospitalization, pneumonia, encephalitis and even death.

WOOD TV8 quoted Dr. Bill Bush, pediatrician in chief of Helen DeVos Children's Hospital, saying, “the little kids don’t have the immune system that we do as older children and adults to fight off things, and so that’s why we start vaccinations for the measles at 12 months,"

His message to parents considering opting their child out of the vaccine:

“Really consider those risks. The diseases we can prevent with vaccines not only prevent children from dying, but it also spreading to unvaccinated babies who can’t yet receive their vaccines, adults who are at risk as they get older of getting diseases (now) that their immunity may have now decreased.”

Make sure your kids are properly vaccinated, and check with your doctor for yourself. You may need an additional booster.