As of March 14, there have been over 300 confirmed cases of measles in the U.S., including one reported case in Michigan.
Transmission
Measles is a highly contagious virus that can lead to severe complications. If one person is infected, up to 9 out of 10 people nearby will become infected if they are not protected. It is spread through coughing, sneezing, and via infected surfaced and can live for up to two hours in an airspace after an infected person leaves the area.
Symptoms
Symptoms may show up 3-14 days after exposure, including high fever, cough, runny nose, red and watery eyes, tiny white spots inside the mouth, and flat red spots on the skin. There is no specific treatment for measles, other than comfort measures like bed rest and treating symptoms.
Prevention
Luckily, it’s easy to protect yourself by ensuring you are up to date on your MMR vaccine, a combination vaccine that protects against measles, mumps, and rubella.
- Students can contact Campus Health Services at 517-353-4660 to schedule an appointment to get vaccinated. Remember, all students are eligible for 3 prepaid appointments each academic year.
- Faculty and staff are encouraged to contact their primary care provider to discuss their risk and immunization status.
- If you think you may have measles and seek medical attention, please call ahead so that proper isolation strategies can be put in place.
- Not sure about your immunization status? If you were immunized in Michigan, you may be able to download your immunization record through the Michigan Immunization Portal.
- Learn more about measles and stay up to date with Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
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