The Measles Outbreak in Michigan is Real and Growing

Texas is no longer the only state with a measles outbreak. Michigan is now among 23 states with measles cases, and the numbers continue to grow.

How Contagious is the Measles Virus?

That is a simple question to answer because measles is highly contagious. The measles virus is one of the most infectious diseases known to mankind.

👇BELOW: Here are the 7 top measles symptoms to watch out for👇

What makes the measles so contagious is that if a person is carrying the virus, they can spread it to others without knowing it, 4 days before the appearance of the rash and 4 days after the signs go away. It may take 7 to 14 days for measles symptoms to appear.

A person infected with the measles can expect a rash for 7 to 10 days. If you have not been vaccinated for measles, you are 90% likely to become infected. Those are not good odds for all the anti-vaxxers.

Read More: Cases of Mumps Virus Have Been Popping Up in Michigan

Measles Cases in West Michigan

According to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), 3 measles cases have been confirmed in Montcalm County. These cases are not related to those found in Ingham and Oakland Counties. The Montcalm cases are linked to the ongoing outbreak in Ontario, Canada.

The MDHHS recommends calling your health care provider before seeking treatment to prevent exposure to other individuals. If you have been vaccinated for measles before 1968, you may have received a less-effective version. You should contact your local healthcare provider or pharmacy to see if you qualify for an additional dose.

To give you an example of how quickly measles can spread, the outbreak in Texas began with 1 case in January, and now there are 561 cases and continues to grow.

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There are currently 7 cases of measles in Michigan, which doesn't seem like a lot, but remember how 1 case in Texas has now turned into 561.

NOTE: The MDHHS defines an outbreak of measles as three or more related cases.